MrsEGWhite 



LIBRARY OF CONGRESS. 

Chap Copyright KoMA<\ 

Shelf I .10 



UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. 




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[2] 



The Children's Friend. 



WJiosoever shall not receive the kingdom of God as a little child, he shall not enter 

therein." 



CHRIST 
OUR SAVIOUR 



+Y* 



"For unto you is born this day in the city 

of David a Saviour, which is 

Christ the Lord." 



'P'W 



BY 

1/ 

Mrs. E. G. White. 

[adapted] • 



PACIFIC PRESS PUBLISHING CO., REVIEW AND HERALD PUB. C(\ 

New York City, Oakland, Cal., Kansas City. | Chicago, Battle Creek, Mich., Atlanta, Ga, 

Two Hundred Fifty-fifth Thousand. 



83375 



Ubrsiry of Conci 

Two Copies Received 
DEC 3 1900 

*.&£&£&!. 

SECOND COPY 

Mfmnd to 
ORDER DIVISION 

DEC 10 1900 



\c\0O 



Copyright, 1896, by Mrs. E. G. White. 



Copyright, 1900, by J. E. White. 



5 



reface 



THE story of the earthly life of Christ our Saviour is 
written without words on every feature of nature, in 
♦ every phase of human experience, in every fact of life. 
We can never fully realize how deep is the impression, how 
widespread is the influence, of the life of Jesus of Nazareth. 
Every blessing of every kind comes to us through that con- 
nection between Heaven and earth which was formed when 
the Lord of glory espoused the cause of a world lost in sin. 
The infinite pathos of that story has inspired the pen 
of the learned and the tongue of the eloquent. But it is 
best told in childlike language. The wonderful spectacle 
needs no human coloring. Its glory surpasses the art of 
men. It shines brightest in its own lustre. 

In these pages no effort is made toward artificial embel- 
lishment. The plain story, as told by one who is moved by 
a deep sense of the infinite proportions of the subject, has 
been put into the language of the young. In its simplicity 
not only does it speak to the hearts of the young, but it 
meets the desire expressed by us all in the familiar song — 

"Tell me the story simply, as to a little child." 

May it be received in the same simplicity and purity 
of faith. 

G. C. T. 



& 



ntents. 



I 

PAGE 

The Birth of Jesus ------- 9 

Jesus Presented in the Temple - - - - 15 

The Visit of the Wise Men - - - - -21 

The Flight into Egypt - - - - - - 25 

Child-Life of Jesus ------- 29 

Days of Conflict ------- 37 

The Baptism .._--_-._ 43 

The Temptation - - 45 

Early Ministry - - - - -' - -51 

Teachings of Christ ------ 61 

Sabbath-Keeping -------- 69 

The Good Shepherd ------ yy 

The Ninety and Nine ------ 85 

Riding into Jerusalem --.--- 87 

"Take These Things Hence" ----- 93 

At the Passover Supper - - - 97 

In Gethsemane - - - - - - - - 107 

The Betrayal and Arrest - - - - - 113 

Before Annas, Caiaphas, and the Sanhedrim - - 117 

Judas- - - - ---.--- " 125 

Before Pilate - - - - - - - - 128 

Before Herod - - - - - - - - 133 

Condemned by Pilate - - - - - - 137 

Calvary --------- 147 

Death of Christ - - - - 153 

In Joseph's Tomb - - - - . - - 157 

"He is Risen" 161 

Go Tell My Disciples - - - - - - 165 

Witnesses - - - - - - - - - 169 

This Same Jesus - - - - - - - 175 

Their Ascended Lord - - - - - 179. 

' [6] 



((.lustrations 



The Children's Friend Frontispiece 

Angels and Shepherds - - I 

Journey to Bethlehem 

Bethlehem - 

Visit oe the Shepherds 

Presentation at Temple - 

The Passover - 

Jerusalem from Golgotha 

Journey of the Wise Men 

The New Star 

Visit of the Wise Men 

Flight Into Egypt 

Egypt - 

The Boy Jesus 

The Wounded Sparrow 

Going to the Passover 

Jesus Among the Doctors 

In the Carpenter's Shop 

Jesus Giving to the Poor 

Christ with Nature - 

Nazareth - 

John the Baptist 

The Jordan - 

As an Angel of Light 

The Temptation - 

The Desert 

Return to the Jordan - 

Water Made Wine 

The Woman of Samaria 

Jesus at the Well 

At Nazareth - 

Water Jars - - - 

The Great Teacher 

On the Mount - 

The Lighthouse ... 

The Good Samaritan 

Home of Mary and Martha 

In the Grain Fields 

Jesus at the Pool - 

"Take up Thy Bed " - 

Mary Forgiven - 

The Helping Hand 

Raising the Widow's Son 

The Lost Sheep Found 

Riding into Jerusalem - 

Viewing Jerusalem 

The Doomed City 



Cleansing the Temple 

Children's Praises 

The Last Supper 

The Cup after Supper 

Washing His Disciples' Feet 

Departure of Judas 

The Blood on the Door Post 

Agony in the Garden 

Sleeping Disciples 

Gethsemane - 

The Traitor's Kiss 

The Brook Kidron 

Before the Sanhedrim 

" Art Thou the Christ? " 

' ' He Is Guilty " - 

Web and Thorns 

Judas Selling Christ 

Silver Coin - - - • 

"The King of the Jews " - 

Roman Lanterns - - - ■ 

Mocking the Saviour 

Sure Word of Prophecy 

' ' Behold the Man " - 

The Crown of Thorns 

Christ or Barabbas 

" His Blood Be on L's " - 

Insignia of Office 

Bearing the Cross 

The Crucifixion 

Pierced Hands and Feet 

Roman Thongs 

Darkness on Calvary 

Vail of the Temple Rent 

The Burial -.'__. 

Sealing the Tomb 

The Heavenly Messenger 

Breaking the Seal 

Roman Soldiers 

" Touch Me Not " 

Tomb in Ruins 

' ' Abide with Us " 

" Peace Be unto You " - 

The Ten Virgins 

The Ascension 

One Fold, One Shepherd - 

The Open Gates 

The Cross of Calvary 

[7] 



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96 

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no 
112 
114 
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122 
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127 
129 
132 

134 
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138 
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144 

145 
146 
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152 
154 
156 
158 
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162 
163 
164 
167 
168 
170 
173 
174 
176 
178 
181 
182 




[8] Angels Appearing to the Shepherds. 

" Behold ', / bring you good tidings of great joy." 



The Birth of Jesus. 




k N the little town of Nazareth, nestled among 

the hills of Galilee, was the home of 

Joseph and Mary, who were afterward 

known as the earthly parents of 

Jesus. 

Now Joseph was of the line- 
age, or family, of David ; and so, 
when a decree was sent out for 
the people to be taxed, he had to 
go to Bethlehem, the city of 
^ David, to have his name enrolled. 
This was a toilsome journey, as people 
^travelled in those times. Alary, who went with 
her husband, was very weary as she climbed the 
hill on which Bethlehem stands. 
How she longed for a comfortable place in which to rest! 
But the inns were already full. The rich and proud were 
well cared for, while these humble travelers had to find rest 
in a rude building where cattle were sheltered. 

Joseph and Mary possessed little of earth's riches, but 
they had the love of God, and this made them rich in con- 
tentment and peace. They were children of the heavenly 
King, who was about to give them a wonderful honor. 

Angels had been watching them while they were on their 
journey, and when night came on, and they went to rest, 
they were not left alone. Angels were still with them. 

There, in that lowly shed, Jesus the Saviour was born 

[9] 



IO 



THE BIRTH OF JESUS. 



and laid in a manger. In that rude cradle lay the Son of 
the Highest, — He whose presence had filled the courts of 
Heaven with glory. 

Before He carne to 
the earth, Jesus was 
the Commander of the 
angel hosts. The 
brightest and most 
exalted of the sons of 
the morning heralded 




The Journey to 
Bethlehem. 



His glory at the creation. They veiled their faces before 
Him as He sat upon His throne. They cast their crowns 
at His feet, and sang His triumphs as they beheld His 
greatness. 

Yet this glorious Being loved the poor sinner, and took 
upon Him the form of a servant, that He might suffer and 
die for us. 

Jesus might have remained at the Father's side, wearing 
the kingly crown and the royal robe ; but for our sake He 
chose to exchange the riches of Heaven for the poverty of earth. 



THE BIRTH OF JESUS. II 

He chose to leave His station of high command, to leave 
the angels who loved Him. The adoration of the heavenly 
throng He chose to exchange for mockery and abuse by 
wicked men. From love to us, He accepted a life of hard- 
ship and a death of shame. 

All this Christ did to show how much God loves us. He 
lived on earth to show how we may honor God by obedience 
to His will. He did this so that by following His example 
we may at last dwell with Him in His heavenly home. 

The priests and rulers among the Jews were not ready to 
welcome Jesus. They knew that the Saviour was soon to 
come, but they expected Him to be a mighty king who 
would make them rich and great. They were too proud to 
think of the Messiah as being a helpless child. 

So when Christ was born, God did not reveal it to them. 
He sent the glad news to some shepherds who kept their 
flocks on the hills around Bethlehem. 

These were good men, and as they watched their sheep by 
night, they talked together about the promised Saviour, and 
prayed so earnestly for His coming that God sent bright 
messengers from His own throne of light to teach them. 

" And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the 
glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were 
sore afraid. 

"And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for behold, 
I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all 
people. For unto you is born this day, in the city of 
David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. 

" And this shall be a sign unto you : Ye shall find the 
babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. 

" And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of 
the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God 
in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men. 




£ 



% 



THE BIRTH OF JESUS. 



13 



" And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away 
from them into Heaven, the shepherds said one to another, 
Let ns now go even nnto Bethlehem, and see this thing 
which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known 
nnto us. 

"And they came with 
haste, and found Mary, and 




Visit of the Shepherds. 



Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger. And when they 
had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which 
was told them concerning this child. 

"And all they that heard it wondered at those things 
which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept 
all these things, and pondered them in her heart." — Luke 
2:9-19. 



Jesus Presented in the Temple. 




OSEPH and Alary were Jews, and followed 
the customs of their nation. When 
Jesus was six weeks old, they 
brought Him to the Lord in the 
temple at Jerusalem. 

This was according to the law 
which God had given to Israel, and 
Jesus was to be obedient in all things. 
So God's own Son, the Prince of 
Heaven, by His example teaches that 
we should obey. 

Only the first-born son of each 
family was thus presented at the temple. This 
ceremony was to keep in memory an event that 
had taken place long before. 

When the children of Israel were slaves in Egypt, the 
Lord sent Moses to set them free. He bade Moses go to 
Pharaoh, king of Egypt, and say: — 

" Thus saith the Lord : Israel is My son, even My first-born ; 
and I say unto thee, Let My son go, that he may serve Me : 
and if thou refuse to let him go, behold, I will slay thy son, 
even thy first-born." Exodus 4:22,23. 

Moses carried this message to the king. But Pharaoh's 
answer was, "Who is the Lord that I should obey His voice 
to let Israel go? I know not the Lord, neither will I let 
Israel go." Exodus 5:2. 

Then the Lord sent fearful plagues upon the Egyptians. 
The last of these plagues was the slaying of the first-born 

[15] 



i6 



JESUS PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE. 



son of every family, from that of the king to the lowliest 
in the land. 

The Lord told Moses that every family of the Israelites 
mnst kill a lamb, and put some of the bloody upon the door 
posts of their dwelling. 

This was a sign, that the 
angel of death might pass 
over all the houses of the 
Israelites, and destroy none 
but the 




For in 
as the 



pass- 
over" represented to the Jews the blood of Christ, 
due time, God would give His dear Son to be slain 
lamb had been slain ; so that all who should believe in Him 
might be saved from everlasting death. Christ is called our 
passover. i Corinthians 5 : 7. By His blood, through faith, 
we are redeemed. Ephesians 1 : 7. 



JESUS PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE. 1 7 

So as each family in Israel brought the eldest son to 
the temple, they were to remember how the children had 
been saved from the plague, and how all might be saved 
from sin and eternal death. The child presented at the 
temple was taken in the arms of the priest, and held up 
before the altar. 

Thus it was solemnly dedicated to God. Then after it 
was given back to the mother, its name was witten in the 
roll, or book, that contained the names of the first-born of 
Israel. So all who are saved by Christ's blood will have 
their names written in the book of life. 

Joseph and Mary brought Jesus to the priest as the law 
required. Every day fathers and mothers were coming with 
their children, and in Joseph and Alary the priest saw noth- 
ing different from many others. They were simple work- 
ing people. 

In the child Jesus he saw only a helpless infant. Little 
did the priest think that he was then holding in his arms 
the Saviour of the world, the High Priest of the heavenly 
temple. But he might have known ; for if he had been 
obedient to God's word, the Lord would have taught him 
these things. 

At this very time there were in the temple two of God's 
true servants, Simeon and Anna. Both had grown old in 
His sen*ice, and He showed them things that could not be 
made known to the proud ana selfish priests. 

To Simeon had been given the promise that he should 
not die until he had seen the Saviour. As soon as he saw 
Jesus in the temple, he knew that this was the Promised 
One. 

Upon the face of Jesus there was a soft, heavenly light; 
and Simeon, taking the child in his arms, praised God, and 
said :— 




i t 
E -8 



JESUS PRESENTED IN THE TEMPLE. 1 9 

"Lord, now lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, 
according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy sal- 
vation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all peo- 
ple; a light to lighten the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy 
people Israel." Luke 2:29-32. 

Anna, a prophetess, "corning in that instant gave thanks 
likewise unto the Lord, and spake of Him to all them that 
looked for redemption in Jerusalem." Luke 2 : 38. 

So it is that God chooses humble people to be His wit- 
nesses. Often those whom the world calls great are passed 
by. Many are like the Jewish priests and rulers. 

Many are eager to serve and honor themselves, but think 
little about serving and honoring God. Therefore He can- 
not choose them to tell others of His love and mercy. 

Mary, the mother of Jesus, pondered the far-reaching 
prophecy of Simeon. As she looked upon the child in her 
arms, and recalled what the shepherds of Bethlehem had 
said, she was full of grateful joy and bright hope. 

Simeon's words called to her mind the prophecy of 
Isaiah. She knew that of Jesus were spoken these wonder- 
ful words : — 

"The people that walked in darkness have seen a great 
light: they that dwell in the land of the shadow of death, 
upon them hath the light shined." 

"For unto us a child is born, unto us a Son is given; 
and the government shall be upon His shoulder: and His 
name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, the Mighty 
God, the Everlasting Father, the Prince of Peace." Isaiah 
9 : 2-6. 




5 ^ 



The Visit of the Wise flen. 




OD wanted the people to know abont the 

coming of Christ to the earth. The 

priests shonld have tanght the people 

to look for the Savionr; bnt they 

themselves did not know of His 

coming. 

So God sent angels to tell 
the shepherds that Christ was 
born, and where they might find 
Him. 

So, too, when Jesns was pre- 
sented at the temple, there were 
those who received Him as the 
Saviour. God had preserved the 
lives of Simeon and Anna, and they had the joyful privi- 
lege of testifying that Jesus was the promised Messiah. 

God meant for others, as well as the Jews, to know 
that Christ had come. In a country far to the east were 
wise men who had studied the prophecies concerning the 
Messiah, and who believed that His coming was near. 

The Jews called these men heathen ; but they were not 
idolaters. They were honest men, who wanted to know the 
truth, and to do the will of God. 

God looks upon the heart, and He knew that these men 
could be trusted. They were in a better condition to receive 
light from Heaven than were the Jewish priests, who were 
so full of selfishness and pride. 

These wise men were philosophers. They had studied the 
handiwork of God in nature, and had learned to love Him 
there. They had studied the stars, and knew their movements. 

[21] 



22 



THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN. 



They loved to watch the heavenly bodies in theii 
nightly march. If a new star should be seen, they wonld 
welcome its appearance as a great event. 

On that night when the angels came to the shepherds 
of Bethlehem, the wise men had noticed a strange light in 

the sky. It was the glory 
which snrronnded the angel 
host. 




When this light faded away, they had seen in the heavens 
what looked like a new star. At once they thought of the 
prophecy which says, "There shall come a Star out of 
Jacob, and a Sceptre shall rise out of Israel." Numbers 
24: 17. Was this star a sign that the Messiah had come? 
They determined to follow it, and see where it would lead them. 
It led them into Judea. But when they came near to Jeru- 
salem, the star grew so dim that they could not follow it. 

Supposing that the Jews could at once guide them to 



THE VISIT OF THE WISE MEN. 23 

the Saviour, the wise men went into Jerusalem, and said, 
"Where is He that is horn King of the Jews? for we have 
seen His star in the east, and are come to worship Him. 

"When Herod the king had heard these things, he was 
troubled, and all Jerusalem with him. And when he had 
gathered all the chief priests and scribes of the people 
together, he demanded of them where Christ should be 
born. And they said unto him, In Bethlehem of Judea; 
for thus it is written by the prophet." 

Herod did not like to hear of a king who might some 
day take his throne. So he took the wise men by them- 
selves, and asked when they first saw the star. Then he 
sent them to Bethlehem, saying: — "Go and search dili- 
gently for the young child; and when ye have found Him, 
bring me word again, that I may come and worship Him also." 

When the wise men heard this, they started again on 
their journey. "And, lo, the star which they saw in the 
east, went before them, till it came and stood over where 
the young child was." 

"When they were come into the house, they saw the 
young child with Mary His mother, and fell down and 
worshiped Him; and when they had opened their treasures, 
they presented unto Him gifts, gold, frankincense, and 
myrrh." Matthew 2:2-11. 

The most precious things they had, the wise men 
brought to the Saviour. In this they set an example for 
us. Many give presents to their earthly friends, but have 
none for the heavenly Friend who has given them every 
blessing. We should not do this. To Christ we should bring 
the best of all we have, — of our time, money, and our love. 

We may give to Him by giving to comfort the poor, 
and to teach people about the Saviour. So we can help to 
save those for whom He died. Such gifts Jesus blesses. 



™ . — . — ■ — 




[24] Visit of the Wise Men. 

"T/.ey presented unto Hh?t gifts : gold, and frankincense, and myrrh. 



The Flight Into Egypt. 




EROD had not been honest in saying 
that he wanted to go and wor- 
ship Jesns. He feared that the 
Saviour would grow up to be a 
king, and take his kingdom from 
him. 

He wanted to find the child, 
i that he might have Him put to 
death. 

The wise men prepared to 
return and tell Herod. But the 
angel of the Lord appeared to them in a dream, and sent 
them home another way. 

"And when they were departed, behold, the angel of the 
Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, Arise, and 
take the young child and His mother, and flee into Egypt, 
and be thou there until I bring thee word; for Herod will 
seek the young child to destroy Him. Matthew 2:13. 

Joseph did no wait till morning ; he rose at once, and, 
with Mary and the child, started by night on the long jour- 
ney. 

The wise men had given costly presents to Jesus, and in 
this way God provided for the expenses of the journey and 
their stay in Egypt, until they should return to their own 
land. 

Herod was very angry when he found that the wise men 
had gone home another way. He knew what God by His 
prophet had said about Christ's coming. 

[25] 




[26] The Journey to Egypt. 

" Take the young child and flee into Egypt. 



THE FLIGHT INTO EGYPT. 



27 



He knew how the star had been sent as a gnide to the 
wise men. Yet he was determined to destroy Jesns. In his 
wrath he sent soldiers to kill u all the children that were in 
Bethlehem, . . . from two years old and under." 

How strange that a man should fight against God! What 
an awful scene this slaying of the innocent children must 
have been ! Herod had before done many cruel things ; but 
his wicked life was soon to end. He died a terrible death. 

Joseph and Mary remained in Egypt till after the death 
of Herod. Then the angel appeared to Joseph, and said, 
" Arise, and take the young child and His mother, and go 
into the land of Israel ; for they are dead which sought the 
young child's life. Matthew 2:16, 20. 

Joseph had hoped to make his home in Bethlehem, where 
Jesus was born ; but on coming near to Judea, he learned 
that a son of Herod was reigning in place of his father. 

This made Joseph afraid to go there, and he did not 
known what to do ; so God sent an angel to instruct him. 
Following the directions of the angel, Joseph returned to his 
old home in Nazareth. 





[ 2 8] The Boy Jesus. 

" And Jesus increased in wisdom and stature, and in favor with God and man.' 



Child=Life of Jesus* 




lESUS in His childhood lived in a little 
mountain village. He was the Son 
of God, and He might have had 
any place on earth for His home. 
He wonld have been an honor 
to any place. Bnt He did not go 
to the homes of rich men or the 
palaces of kings. He chose to 
dwell among the poor in Nazareth. 
Jesns wants the poor to know 
that He understands their trials. He has borne all that 
they have to bear. He can sympathize with them and help 
them. 

Of Jesns in His early years the Bible says, " The child 
grew, and waxed strong in spirit, filled with wisdom ; and 
the grace of God was npon Him." "And Jesns increased 
in wisdom and statnre, and in favor with God and man." 
Lnke 2 : 40, 52. 

His mind w T as bright and active. He was of qnick 
understanding, and showed a thoughtfulness and wisdom 
beyond His years. Yet His ways were simple and child- 
like, and He grew in mind and body as other children 
grow. 

But Jesus was not in all things like other children. He 
always showed a sweet, unselfish spirit. His willing hands 
were always ready to serve others. He was patient and 
truthful. 

[29] 



30 



CHILD-LIFE OF JESUS. 




Firm as a rock in standing for the right, He never 
failed to be gentle and courteous toward all. In His home, 
and wherever He might be, He was like a cheerful sunbeam. 
^^ _.' He was thoughtful and 

v*> r \-- ■ kind toward the aged and 

■*S*I * \i \ the poor, and He showed 
\ ) kindness even to the dumb 
fP&m'KJ' animals. He would care 
tenderly for a little wounded 
bird, and every living thing 
was happier when He was 
near. 
/if •• In the days of Christ the 

Jews gave much care to the 
education of their children. 
fe. .-.**** r Their schools were connected 
y with the synagogues, or places 

of worship, and the teachers were 
called rabbis, men who were supposed 
to be very learned. 
Jesus did not go to these schools, for they taught many 
things that were not true. Instead of God's word, the say- 
ings of men were studied, and often these were contrary to 
that which God had taught through His prophets. 

God Himself by His Holy Spirit instructed Mary how 
to bring up His Son. Mary taught Jesus from the Holy 
Scriptures, and He learned to read and study them for 
Himself. 

Jesus also loved to study the wonderful things which 
God had made, in the earth and in the sky. In this book 
of nature He saw the trees and plants and animals, and 
the .sun and the stars. 

Day by day He watched them, and tried to learn 




CHILD-LIFE OF JESUS. 



31 



lessons from them, and to understand the reason of things. 

Holy angels were with Him, and helped Him to learn 
from these things about God. Thus, as He grew in height 
and strength, He grew also in knowledge and wisdom. 

Every child may gain knowledge as Jesus did. We 
should spend our time in learning 
only that which is true. False- 
hood and fables will do us no 
good. /j. 

Only the truth is of any 
value, and this we may learn 
from God's Word and from 
His works. As we 
study these things 
the angels will 
help us to under- 
stand. 

We shall see 
the wisdom and 
goodness of our 
heavenly Father. 
Our minds will 
be strengthened, 
our hearts will 
be made pure, 
and we shall be 
more like Christ. 

Every year Joseph and Mary went up to Jerusalem, to 
the feast of the passover. When Jesus was twelve years 
old, they took Him with them. 

This was a pleasant journey. The people travelled on 
loot, or rode on oxen or asses, and it took several days to 
go. The distance from Nazareth to Jerusalem is about 




Going Up to the Passovo; 



32 CHILD-LIFE OF JESUS. 

seventy miles. From all parts of the land, and even from 
other countries, the people went to this feast, and those 
from the same place usually travelled together, in a large 
company. 

The feast was held near the close of March or the begin- 
ning of April. This was springtime in Palestine, and the 
whole land was bright with flowers, and glad with the song 
of birds. 

As they travelled, parents told their children of the 
wonderful things that God had done for Israel in ages 
past. And often they sang together some of the beautiful 
psalms of David. 

In the days of Christ the people had grown cold and 
formal in their service to God. They thought more of 
their own pleasure than of His goodness to them. 

But it was not so with Jesus. He loved to think about 
God. As He. came to the temple, He watched the priests 
in their work. He bowed with the worshipers as they 
knelt to pray, and His voice joined in the songs of praise. 

Every morning and evening a lamb was offered upon 
the altar. This was to represent the death of the Saviour. 
As the child Jesus looked upon the innocent victim, the 
Holy Spirit taught Him its meaning. He knew that He 
Himself, as the Lamb of God, must die for the sins of' 
men. 

With such thoughts in His mind, Jesus wanted to be 
alone. So He did not stay with His parents in the temple, 
and when they started for home He was not with them. 

In a room connected with the temple there was a school 
taught by the rabbis, and to this place after a while the 
child Jesus came. He sat with the other youth at the feet 
of the great teachers, and listened to their words. 

The Jews had many wrong ideas about the Messiah. 



CHILD-LIFE OF JESUS. 33 

Jesus knew this, but He did not contradict the learned 
men. As one who wished to be taught, He asked questions 
about what the prophets had written. 

The fifty-third chapter of Isaiah speaks of the Saviour's 
death, and Jesus read this chapter, and asked its meaning. 

The rabbis could give no answer. They began to 
question Jesus, and they were astonished at His knowledge 
of the Scriptures. 

They saw that He understood the Bible far better than 
they did. They saw that their teaching was wrong, but 
they were not willing to believe anything different. 

Yet Jesus was so modest and gentle that they were not 
angry with Him. They wanted to keep Him as a student, 
and teach Him to explain the Bible as they did. 

When Joseph and Mary left Jerusalem on their journey 
toward home, they did not notice that Jesus stayed behind. 
They thought that He was with some of their friends in 
the company. 

But on stopping to camp for the night, they missed His 
helpful hand. They looked for Him throughout the com- 
pany, but in vain. 

Joseph and Mary were in great fear. They remembered 
how Herod had tried to kill Jesus in His infancy, and they 
were afraid that some evil had now befallen Him. 

With sorrowful hearts they hastened back to Jerusalem; 
but it was not till the third day that they found Him. 

Great was their joy at seeing Him again, yet Mary 
thought that He was to blame for leaving them. She said: — 

"Son, why hast Thou thus dealt with us? behold, Thy 
father and I have sought Thee sorrowing." 

"How is it that ye sought Me?" Jesus answered; "wist 
ye not that I must be about My Father's business?" Luke 
2 : 48, 49. 




[34] 



The Child Jesus Among the Doctors. 



" They found Him in the temple sitting in the midst of ,t 'he doctors, both hearing 
them and asking them questions." 



CHILD-LIFE OF JESUS. 35 

As He spoke these words, Jesus pointed upward. On 
His face was a light at which they wondered. Jesus knew 
that He was the Son of God, and He had been doing the 
work for which His Father had sent Him into the world. 

Mary never forgot these words. In the years that fol- 
lowed, she better understood their wonderful meaning. 

Joseph and Mary loved Jesus, yet they had been care- 
less in losing Him. They had forgotten the very work 
which God had given them to do. By one day's neglect 
they lost Jesus. 

In the same way -to-day many lose the Saviour from 
their company. When we do not love to think about Him, 
or pray to Him: when we speak idle, unkind, or evil words, 
we separate ourselves from Christ. Without Him, we are 
lonely and sad. 

But if we really desire His company, He will always be 
with us. With all who seek His presence, the Saviour 
loves to stay. He will brighten the poorest home, and 
gladden the lowliest heart. 

Though He knew that He was the Son of God, Jesus 
went home to Nazareth with Joseph and Mary. Until 
thirty years of age, He was " subject unto them." 

He who had been the Commander of Heaven was on 
earth a loving and obedient son. The great things brought 
to His mind by the service of the temple were hidden in 
His heart. He waited until -God's time to begin His ap- 
pointed work. 

Jesus lived in the home of a peasant, a poor man. 
Faithfully and cheerfully He did His part in helping to 
support the family. As soon as He was old enough, He 
learned a trade, and worked in the carpenter's shop with 
Joseph. 

In the coarse dress of a common laborer He passed 



36 



CHILD-LIFE OF JESUS. 



through the streets of the little town, going to and from 
His work. He did not use His divine power to make His 
life easier for Himself. 

As Jesus worked in childhood and youth, He grew 
strong in body and mind. He tried to use all His powers 

in such a way as to keep them in 
health, that He might do the 
best work in every line. 

Whatever He did was 
done well. He wanted to 
be perfect, even in the 
handling of tools. By His 
example He taught that 
we ought to be indus- 
trious, that we should 
do our work carefully 
and well, and that such 
work is honorable. All 
should find something 
to do that will be help- 
ful to themselves and 
to others. 

God gave us work 

"*^' jrfrr as a blessing, and He is pleased with children 

^yfW who cheerfully take their part in the duties of the 

household, sharing the burdens of father and mother. Such 

children will go out from the home to be a blessing to 

others. 

The youth who try to please God in all that they do, 
who do right because it is right, will be useful in the 
world. By being faithful in a humble place they are fit- 
ting themselves for a higher position. 




Days of Conflict. 




|HE Jewish teachers made many rules for 
the people, and required them to do 
many things that God had not com- 
manded. Even the children had 
to learn and obey these rules. But 
Jesus did not try to learn what 
the rabbis taught. He was careful 
not to speak disrespectfully of 
these teachers, but He studied the 
Scriptures, and obeyed the laws 
of God. 
Often He was reproved for not doing what 
others did. Then He showed from the Bible what 
was the right way. 

Jesus was always trying to make others happy. Because 
He was so kind and gentle, the rabbis hoped to make Him 
do as they did. But they could not. When urged to obey 
their rules He asked what the Bible taught. Whatever that 
said, He would do. 

This made the rabbis angry. They knew that their 
rules were contrary to the Bible, and yet they were dis- 
pleased with Jesus for refusing to obey them. 

They complained of Him to His parents. Joseph and 
Mary thought the rabbis good men, and Jesus suffered 
blame, which was hard to bear. 

The brothers of Jesus took sides with the rabbis. The 
words of these teachers, they said, should be heeded as the 

L37J 



38 DAYS OF CONFLICT. 

word of God. They reproved Jesus for setting Himself 
above the leaders of the people. 

The rabbis thought themselves better than other men, 
and they would not associate with the common people. The 
poor and ignorant they despised. Even the sick and suffer- 
ing they left without hope or comfort. 

Jesus showed a loving interest in all men. Every suffer- 
ing one whom He met, He tried to help. He had little 
money to give, but He often denied Himself of food in 
order to help others. 

When His brothers spoke harshly to poor, wretched be- 
ings, Jesus would go to these very ones and speak words 
of kindness and encouragement. 

To those who were hungry and thirsty, He would bring 
a cup of cold water, and often would give them the food 
intended for His own meal. 

All this displeased His brothers. They threatened and 
tried to terrify Him, but He kept right on, doing as God 
had said. , 

Many were the trials and temptations that Jesus had to 
meet. Satan was always watching to overcome Him. 

If Jesus could have been led to do one wrong act, or to 
speak -one impatient word, He could not have been our 
Saviour, and the whole world would have been lost. Satan 
knew this, and it was for this reason that he tried so hard 
to lead Jesus into sin. 

The Saviour was always guarded by heavenly angels, 
yet His life was one long struggle against the powers of 
darkness. Not one of us will ever have to meet such fierce 
temptations as He did. 

But to every temptation He had one answer: "It is writ- 
ten." The wrong-doing of His brothers He did not often 
rebuke, but He told them what God had said. 



DAYS OF CONFLICT. 



39 



Nazareth was a wicked town, and the children and youth 
tried to have Jesus follow their evil ways. He was bright 
and cheerful, and they liked His company. 

But His godly principles ' ^^— — — ~^_ 
roused their anger. Often ^^ "^\ 

for refusing to join in 
some forbidden 
He was called a cow- 
ard. Often He was 
sneered at, as being 
altogether too par- 
ticular about little 
things. To 
all this 







tn dp- Jesus Giving to the Poor. 

part from evil is understanding." Job 28:28. To love evil 
is to love death, for "the wages of sin is death." 

Jesus did not contend for His rights. When roughly 
used, He bore it patiently. Because He was so willing and 
uncomplaining, His work was often made needlessly hard. 
Yet He was not discouraged, for He knew that God smiled 
upon Him. 



4o 



DAYS OF CONFLICT. 



His happiest hours were found when alone with nature 
and with God. When his work was done, He loved to go 
into the fields, to meditate in the green valleys, to pray to 
God on the mountain-side, or amid the trees of the forest. 

He listened to the lark caroling forth music to its Crea- 
tor, and His voice joined the song 
of joyful praise and thanksgiving. 

With the voice of singing He wel- 
comed the morning light. 
The break of day often found 
Him in some quiet place, 
thinking about God, studying 
the Bible, or in prayer. 

From these peaceful hours 
He would return to His home 
to take up His duties again, 
and to give an example of 
patient toil. 

Wherever He was, His 
presence seemed to bring the 
angels near. The influence 
of His pure, holy life was 
felt by all classes of people. 

Harmless and undefiled, 
He walked among the though t- 




Christ with Nature. 3 



less, the rude, the uncourteous ; amid the unjust taxgathers, 
the reckless prodigals, the unrighteous Samaritans, the 
heathen soldiers, and the rough peasants. 

He spoke a word of sympathy here, and a word there, 
as He saw men weary, yet compelled to bear heavy burdens. 
He shared their burdens, and repeated to them the lessons 
He had learned from nature, of the love, the kindness, the 
goodness of God. 



DAYS OF CONFLICT. 



41 



He . taught them to look upon themselves as having 
precious talents, which if rightly used would gain for them 
eternal riches. By His own example He taught that every 
moment of time is of value, and should be put to some 
good use. 

He passed by no human being as worthless, but tried 
to encourage the roughest and most unpromising. He told 
them that God loved them as His children, and that they 
might become like Him in character. 

So in a quiet way Jesus from His very childhood 
worked for others. This work none of the learned teachers, 
nor even His own brothers, could make Him give up. 
With an earnest purpose He carried out the design of His 
life, for He was to be the light of the world. 





[42] 



John the Baptist. 

" The kingdom of God is at hand ; repent ye, and believe the gospel. 



The Baptism. 




HEN the time for Christ's public min- 
had come, His first act was to go 
the river Jordan, and be baptized 
John the Baptist. 

John had been sent to prepare 
the way for the Saviour. He had 
preached in the wilderness, say- 
ing:— 

" The kingdom of God is at 
hand ; repent ye, and believe the 
gospel." Mark i : 15. 

Multitudes nocked to hear him. 
Many were convicted of their sins, 
and were baptized by him in the Jordan. 

God had made known to John that some day the Messiah 
would come to him and ask to be baptized. He had also 
promised that a sign should be given him, so that he might 
know who it was. 

When Jesus came, John saw in His face such signs of 
His holy life, that he forbade Him, saying: "I have need 
to be baptized of Thee, and comest Thou to me? 

" And Jesus answering, said unto him, Surfer it to be so 
now; for thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." 
Matthew 3 : 14, 15. 

And as He said this, there was seen upon His face the 
same heavenly light that Simeon had beheld. 

So John led the Saviour down into the waters of the 
beautiful Jordan, and there he baptized Him in the sight of 
all the people. 

[43] 



44 



THE BAPTISM. 



Jesus was not baptized to show repentance for His own 
sins ; for He had never sinned. He did' it to set an exam- 
ple for us. 

When He came up out of the water, He kneeled on the 
river-bank, and prayed. Then the heavens were opened, 
beams of glory streamed forth, " and He saw the Spirit of 
God descending like a dove, and lighting upon Him." 

His face and form were all aglow with the light of the 
glory of God. And from Heaven the voice of God was 
heard saying : — 

"This is My beloved. Son, in whom I am well pleased." 
Matthew 3 : 16, 17. 

The glory that rested upon Christ was a pledge of the 
love of God for us. The Saviour came as our example ; 
and just as surely as God heard His prayer, He will hear 
ours. 

The most needy, the most sinful, the most despised, may 
find access to the Father. When we come to Him in Jesus' 
name, the voice which spoke to Jesus speaks to us, saying : 
This is My beloved child, in whom I am well pleased. 




The Temptation. 




His baptism, Christ was led by the 
Spirit into the wilderness, to be tempted 
of the devil. 

In going into the wilderness, Christ' 

was led by the Spirit of God. He did 

not invite temptation. He wanted to be 

alone, that he might contemplate 

His mission and work. 

By prayer and fasting He was 
to brace Himself for the blood- 
stained path He mnst travel. Bnt 
Satan knew where the Savionr had 
r m</ern<xy gone ; so he went there to tempt Him. 
As Christ left the Jordan, His face was lighted with the 
glory of God. Bnt after He entered the wilderness, this 
glory disappeared. 

The sins of the world were npon Him, and His face 
showed snch sorrow and angnish as man had never felt. 
He was suffering for sinners. 

Adam and Eve in Eden had disobeyed God by eating 
of the forbidden fruit. Their disobedience had brought sin 
and sorrow and death into the- world. 

Christ came to give an example of obedience. In the 
wilderness, after fasting forty days, He would not, even to 
obtain food, depart from the will of His Father. 

One of the temptations that overcame our first parents 
was the temptation to indulge appetite. By this long fast 

[45] 



4 6 



THE TEMPTATION. 



Christ was to show that appetite can be brought under control. 

Satan tempts men to indulgence, because this weakens 
the body and beclouds the mind. Then he knows that he 
can the more easily deceive and destroy them. 

But Christ's example teaches that every wrong desire 
must be overcome. Our appetites are not to rule us ; we 
must rule them. 

When Satan first appeared to Christ, he looked like an 




"If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones be made bread." 

angel of light. He claimed to be a messenger from Heaven. 

He told Jesus that it was not the will of His Father 
that He should endure this suffering ; He was to show only 
a willingness to suffer. 

When Jesus was struggling against the keenest pangs 
of hunger, Satan said to Him : — 

" If Thou be the Son of God, command that these stones 
be made bread." 



THE TEMPTATION. 47 

But since the Saviour had come to live as our example, 
He must endure suffering as we have to endure it ; He 
must not work a miracle for His own good. His miracles 
were all to be for the good of others. To the demand of 
Satan He answered : — 

"It is written, Man shall not live by bread alone, but 
by every word that proceedeth out of the mouth of God." 

Thus He showed that it is far less important to provide 
ourselves with food than that we should obey the word of 
God. Those who obey God's word have the promise of all 
things needed for the present life, and they have also the 
promise of the future life. 

Satan had failed to overcome Christ in the first great 
temptation ; he next carried Him to a pinnacle of the temple 
at Jerusalem, and said : — 

"If thou be the Son of God, cast Thyself down; for it 
is written, He shall give His angels charge concerning Thee ; 
and in their hands they shall bear Thee up, lest at any 
time Thou dash Thy foot against a stone." 

Satan here followed Christ's example in quoting Scrip- 
ture. But this promise is not for those who wilfully venture 
into danger. God had not told Jesus to throw Himself down 
from the temple. Jesus would not do it to please Satan. 
He said: — "It is written again, Thou shalt not tempt the 
Lord thy God." 

We should trust in the care of our heavenly Father ; 
but we must not go where He does not send us. We must 
not do what He has forbidden. 

Because God is merciful, and ready to forgive, there are 
those who say that it is safe to disobey Him. But this is 
presumption. God will forgive all who seek pardon and 
turn away from sin. But those who choose to disobey Him 
He can not bless. 




[48] The Temptation. 

" Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve? 



THE TEMPTATION. 49 

Satan now appeared what lie really was, — the prince of 
the powers of darkness. He took Jesns to the top of a 
high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the 
world. 

The sunlight lay on splendid cities, marble palaces, 
fruitful fields and vineyards. Satan said : — 

"All these things will I give Thee, if Thou wilt fall 
down and worship me." 

For a moment Christ looked upon the scene. Then He 
turned away. Satan had presented the world to Him in the 
most attractive light ; but the Saviour looked beneath the 
outward beauty. 

He saw the world in its wretchedness and sin, apart 
from God. All this misery was the result of man's turning 
away from God to worship Satan. 

Christ was filled with longing to redeem that which was 
lost. He longed to restore the world to more than its Eden 
beauty. He wanted to place men on vantage-ground with 
God. 

For sinful man He was withstanding temptation. He 
was to be an overcomer, that they might overcome, that 
they might be equal with the angels, and be worthy to be 
acknowledged as sons of God. 

To Satan's demand for worship, Christ answered : — 

" Get thee hence, Satan ; for it is written, Thou shalt 
worship the Lord thy God, and Him only shalt thou serve." 
Matthew 4 : 3-10. 

The love of the world, the lust for power, and the pride 
of life, — everything that draws man away from the worship 
of God, — was embraced in this great temptation of Christ. 

Satan offered Christ the world and its riches if He 
would pay homage to the principles of evil. So Satan pre- 
sents to us the advantages to be gained by wrong-doing. 



50 



'The temptation. 



He whispers to us, " In order to succeed in this world, 
you must serve me. Do not be too particular about truth 
and honesty. Obey my counsel, and I will give you riches, 
honor, and happiness." 

In obeying this counsel we are worshiping Satan instead 
of God. It will bring us only misery and ruin. 

Christ has shown us what we should do when tempted. 

When He said to Satan, "Get thee hence," the tempter 
could not resist the command. He was compelled to go. 

Writhing with baffled hate and rage, the rebel chief left 
the presence of the world's Redeemer. 

The contest was ended for the time. Christ's victory 
was as complete as had been the failure of Adam. 

So we may resist temptation, and evercome Satan. The 
Lord says to us, " Resist the devil, and he will flee from 
you. Draw nigh to God, and He will draw nigh to you." 
James 4:7,8. 




Early Ministry. 




ROM the wilderness, Christ returned to 
the Jordan, where John the Baptist was 
preaching. At that time men sent by 
the rulers at Jerusalem were ques- 
tioning John as to his authority 
for teaching and baptizing the 
people. 

They asked if he was the 
Messiah, or Elijah, or "that 
prophet," meaning Moses. To 
all this he answered, " I am 
not." Then they asked: — 
"Who art thou? that we may give an answer to them 
that sent us." 

He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilder- 
ness, Make straight the way of the Lord, as said the 
prophet Esaias." John 1:22, 23. 

In old times when a king had to travel from one part 
of his country to another, men were sent ahead of his 
chariot to prepare the roads. 

They had to cut down trees, gather out the stones, and 

fill up the hollows, so that the way would be clear for the king. 

- So when Jesus, the heavenly King, was coming, John 

the Baptist was sent to prepare the way by telling the 

people, and calling on them to repent of their sins. 

As John answered the messengers from Jerusalem, he 
saw Jesus standing on the river-bank. His face lighted up, 
and stretching out his hands, he said: — 

[51] 




[52J Return to the Jordan. 

"Behold the Lamb oj God, which taketh away the sin 0/ the world: 



EARLY MINISTRY. 53 

" There standeth One among yon, whom ye know not, 
He it is, who coming after me, is preferred before me, 
whose shoes latchet I am not worthy to unloose." John 
i : 26, 27. 

The people were greatly moved. The Messiah was 
among them ! They looked about eagerly to find the one 
of whom John , had spoken. But Jesus had mingled with 
the multitude, and was lost to sight. 

The next day John again saw Jesus, and, pointing to Him, 
cried: — "Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the 
sin of the world! " 

Then John told of the sign that had been seen at 
Christ's baptism. " I saw, and bare record," he added, 
"that this is the Son of God." John 1: 29, 34. 

With awe and wonder the hearers looked upon Jesus. 
They questioned with themselves, Is this the Christ? 

They saw that Jesus bore no tokens of worldly wealth 
or greatness. His clothing was plain and simple, such as 
poor people wore. But in His pale, worn face was some- 
thing that moved their hearts. 

In that face they read dignity and power; and every 
glance of the eye, every feature of the countenance, spoke 
of divine compassion and unutterable love. 

But the messengers from Jerusalem were not drawn to 
the Saviour. John had not said that which they desired to 
hear. They expected the Messiah to come as a great 
conqueror. They saw that this was not the mission of 
Jesus, and in disappointment they turned from Him. 

The next day John again saw Jesus, and again he cried, 
"Behold the Lamb of God!" Two of John's disciples were 
standing near, and they followed Jesus. They listened to 
His teaching, and became His disciples. One of the two 
was Andrew, the other John. 



54 EARLY MINISTRY. 

Andrew soon brought to Jesns his own brother, Simon, 
whom Christ named Peter. The next day, on the way to 
Galilee, Christ called another disciple, Philip. As soon as 
Philip found the Saviour, he brought his friend Nathanael. 

In this way Christ's great work on earth was begun. 
One by one He called His disciples, and one brought his 
brother, another his friend. This is what every follower of 
Christ is to do. As soon as he himself knows Jesus, he is 
to tell others what a precious Friend he has found. This 
is a work that all can do, whether they are young or old. 

At Cana in Galilee, Christ, with his disciples, attended 
a marriage feast. For the happiness of this household 
gathering, His wonderful power was put forth. 

It was the custom in that country to use wine on such 
occasions. Before the feast was ended, the supply of wine 
had failed. The lack of wine at a feast would be thought 
to show a want of hospitality, and this was regarded as a 
great disgrace. 

Christ was told of what had happened, and He bade the 
servants fix six large stone jars with water. Then He 
said, " Draw out now, and bear unto the governor of the 
feast." John 2:8. 

Instead of water, there came forth wine. This wine was 
much better than that which had been served before, and 
there was enough for all. 

After working the miracle, Jesus quietly went away. 
Not till He had gone, did the guests know of the work He 
had done. 

Christ's gift to the marriage feast was a symbol. The 
water represented baptism, and the wine His blood, that 
was to be shed for the world. 

The wine which Jesus made was not fermented liquor. 
Such wine is a cause of drunkenness and many great evils, 



EARLY MINISTRY. 



55 



and God had forbidden its nse. He says, " Wine is a 
mocker, strong drink is raging ; and whosoever is deceived 
thereby is not wise." " It biteth like a serpent, and 
stingeth like an adder." Proverbs 20: 1 ; 23: 32. 

The wine nsed at the feast was the pure, sweet juice of 
the grape. . It was like that which the prophet Isaiah calls 

" the new wine . . . in the 
cluster;" and he says, "A 
blessing is in it." Isaiah 
65:8. 

By going to the mar- 
riage feast, Christ showed 
that it is right to meet 
together in this pleasant 
way. He liked to see 
people happy. Often 
He visited them in 
their homes, and tried 
to have them forget 
their cares and their 
troubles, and think of 
God's goodness and 
His love. Wherever 
He might be, Christ 

The Water flade Wine. WaS always trying tO 

do this. Wherever a heart was open to receive the divine 
message, He unfolded the truths of the way of salvation. 

One day, as He was passing through the country of 
Samaria, He sat down by a well to rest. When a woman 
came to draw water, He asked her for a drink. 

The woman wondered at this, for she knew how the 
Jews hated the Samaritans. But Christ told her that if she 
would ask of Him, He would give her living water. At 










« /<# ,, : , : , >\ — z — 7? — /" '- *" ' 




#"i\ "'* '"*>/'_"' 



. ' -:"V- 



[5«J Christ and the Woman of Samaria. 

•' Whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him shall never thirst. 



EARLY MINISTRY. 



57 



this she wondered the more. Then Jesns said to her : — 

" Whosoever drinketh of this water shall thirst again; 
but whosoever drinketh of the water that I shall give him 
shall never thirst; but the water that I shall give him 
shall be in him a well of water springing up into everlast- 
ing life." John 4: 13, y< <: \' > x 4- By the 
living water is meant / : v&k tne Holy Spii 
As a thirsty traveler 
drink, so do we need 
our hearts. He who 
drinks of this water 
shall never thirst. 

The Holy Spirit 
brings God's love into 
our hearts. It satisfies 
our longings, so that 
the riches and honors 
and pleasures of this 
world do not attract us. 

And it fills us with 
such joy that we want 
others to have it too. 
It will be in us like a 
spring of water, that 
flows out in blessing to 
all around. 

And every one in 
whom God's Spirit dwells, will live for ever with Christ in 
His kingdom. Received into the heart by faith, it is the 
beginning of the life eternal. 

This precious blessing Christ told the . woman He would 
give her if she asked for it. So He will give it to us. 

This woman had broken God's commandments, and 




Jesus at the Well. 



58 



EARLY MINISTRY. 



Christ showed her that He knew the sins of her life. Bnt 
He showed, too, that He was her friend, that He loved and 
pitied her, and that if she was willing to forsake her sins, 
God , would receive her as His child. 

How glad she was to know this ! In her joy she hnrried 
away to the town near by, and called the people to come 
and see Jesns. 

So they came to the well, and asked Him to stay with 

them. He remained two days, 
and tanght them, and many list- 
ened to His words. They 



__ 




repented of their sins, and believed on Him as their Saviour. 

During His ministry, Jesus twice visited His old home 
at Nazareth. At the first visit He went to the synagogue 
on the Sabbath day. 

Here He read from Isaiah's prophecy about the work of 
the Messiah, — how He was to preach good tidings to the 
poor, to comfort the sorrowing, to give sight to the blind, 
and to heal those that were bruised. 

Then He told the people that all this was fulfilled that 
day. This was the work that He Himself was doing. 



EARLY MINISTRY. 



59 



At these words the hearers were filled with joy. They 
believed that Jesus was the promised Saviour. Their hearts 
were moved upon by the Holy Spirit, and they responded 
with fervent amens and praises to the Lord. 

Then they remembered how Jesus had lived among them 
as a carpenter. Often they had seen Him working in the 
shop with Joseph. Though in His whole life there had 
been only deeds of love and mercy, they would not believe 
that He was the Messiah. 

By such thoughts as these they opened the way for 
Satan to control their minds. Then they were filled with 
wrath against the Saviour. They cried out against Him, 
and determined to take His life. 

They hurried Him away, meaning to throw Him over 
the steep side of a hill. But holy angels were near to 
protect Him. He passed safely through the crowd, and 
was not to be found. 

The next time He came to Nazareth, the people were 
no more ready to receive Him. He went away, never to 
return. 

Christ worked for those who wanted His help, and all 
through the country the people flocked about Him. As He 
healed and taught them, there was great rejoicing. Heaven 
seemed to come down to the earth, and they feasted upon 
the grace of a merciful Saviour. 








[6o] 



The Great Teacher. 

'He spake as never man spake." 



'Teachings of Christ. 




MONG the Jews, religion had come to be 
little more than a ronnd of ceremonies. 
As they had departed from the trne 
worship of God, and lost the spiritual 
power of His word, they had tried to 
supply the lack by adding ceremonies 
Uand traditions of their own. 

Only the blood of Christ can cleanse 
from sin. Only His power can keep 
men from sinning. But the Jews de- 
pended upon their own works and the cere- 
monies of their religion to earn for them 
salvation. Because of their zeal for these ceremonies they 
thought themselves righteous, and worthy of a place in 
God's kingdom. 

But their hopes were fixed on worldly greatness. They 
longed for riches and power, and these they expected as 
the reward for their pretended piety. 

They looked for the Messiah to set up His kingdom on 
this earth, and to rule as a mighty prince among men. 
Every worldly blessing they hoped to receive at His 
coming. 

Jesus knew that their hopes were to be disappointed. 
He had come to teach them of something far better than 
they had sought. 

He had come to restore the true worship of God. He was 
to bring in a pure heart-religion, that would manifest itself 
in a pure life and a holy character. 

[61] 



62 



TEACHINGS OF CHRIST. 



In the beautiful sermon on the mount He explained 
what God thinks most precious, and what would give real 
happiness. 

The Saviour's disciples had been influenced by the 
teachings of the rabbis; and for these disciples, first of all, 






"He explained what God thinks most precious." 

Christ's lessons were spoken. That which He taught them 
is for us also. We need to learn the same things. 

" Blessed are the poor in spirit," Christ said. The poor 
in spirit are those who know their own sinfulness and need. 
They know that of themselves they can do no good thing. 
They desire help from God, and to them His blessing is given. 

For thus saith the high and lofty One that inhabiteth 



TEACHINGS OF CHRIST. 63 

eternity, whose name is Holy : I dwell in the high and 
holy place, with him also that is of a contrite and hnmble 
spirit, to revive the spirit of the hnmble, and to revive the 
heart of the contrite ones." Isaiah 57: 15. 

" Blessed are they that mourn." This does not mean 
those who complain and murmur, and who go about with a 
sour, downcast look. It means those who are truly sorry 
for their sins, and who ask God for pardon. 

All such He will freely forgive. He says, " I will turn 
their mourning into joy, and will comfort them, and make 
them rejoice from their sorrow." Jeremiah 31 : 13. 

" Blessed are the meek." Christ says, "Learn of Me; 
for I am meek and lowly in heart." Matthew 11 : 29. When 
He was wrongfully treated, He returned good for evil. In 
this He has given us an example, that we should do as 
He has done. 

" Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after 
righteousness." Righteousness is right-doing. It is obedi- 
ence to the law of God; for in that law the principles of 
righteousness are set forth. The Bible says, "All Thy 
commandments are righteousness." Psalm 119:172. 

That law Christ, by His example, taught men to obey. 
The righteousness of the law is seen in His life. We 
hunger and thirst after righteousness when we want to have 
all our thoughts, our words, and our actions, like Christ's. 

And we may be like Christ if we really desire to be. 
W T e may have our lives like His life, our actions in har- 
mony with the law of God. The Holy Spirit will bring 
God's love into our hearts, so that we shall delight to do 
His will. 

God is more willing to give us His Spirit than parents 
are to give good things to their children. His promise is, 
"Ask, and it shall be given you." Luke 11:9; Matthew 



64 TEACHINGS OF CHRIST. 

7:7. All that hunger and thirst after righteousness, " shall 
be filled." 

" Blessed are the merciful." To be merciful is to treat 
others better than they deserve. So God has treated us. 
He delights to show mercy. He is kind to the unthankful 
and to the evil. 

So He teaches us to treat one another. He says, " Be 
ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, 
even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you." Ephe- 
sians 4: 32. 

" Blessed are the pure in heart." God cares more for 
what we really are than for what we say we are. He does 
not care how beautiful we may look, but He wants our 
hearts pure. Then all our words and actions will be right. 

King David prayed, Create in me a clean heart, O God." 
"Let the words of my mouth, and the meditation of my 
heart be acceptable in Thy sight, O Lord, my strength, and 
my Redeemer." Psalm 51 : 10; 19: 14. This should be our 
prayer. 

" Blessed are the peacemakers." He who has the meek 
and lowly spirit of Christ will be a peacemaker. Such a 
spirit provokes no quarrel, gives back no angry answer. It 
makes the home happy, and brings a sweet peace that 
blesses all around. 

" Blessed are they which are persecuted for righteous- 
ness' sake." Matthew 5 : 3-10. Christ knew that for His 
sake many of His disciples would be put in prison, and 
many would be killed. But He told them not to mourn 
because of this. 

Nothing can harm those who love and follow Christ. 
He will be with them in every place. They may be put 
to death, but He will give them a life that will never end, 
and a crown of glory that fadeth not away. 



TEACHINGS OF CHRIST. 



65 



And from them others will learn about the dear Saviour. 

Christ said to His disciples : 

"Ye are the light of the world." Matthew 5: 14. Jesus 
was soon going away from the world to His heavenly 
home. But the disciples were to teach the people of His 
love. They were to be as lights among men. 

The lamp in the lighthouse, shining out in the darkness, 

guides 
the ship 
saf ely 
to the 
harbor; 

thus 
Christ 's 
follow- 
ers are 
to shine in this dark 
world, to guide men 
to Christ and the 
heavenly home. 

This is what all 
the followers of Christ 
are to do. He calls 
them to work with 
Him in saving others. 
Such lessons were 
strange and new to 
Christ's hearers, and He repeated them many times. At 
one time a lawyer came to Him with the question : " Master, 
what shall I do to inherit eternal life?" Jesus "said unto 
him, What is written in the law? how readest thou? 

"And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy 
God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy 
5 




66 TEACHINGS OF CHRIST. 

strength, and with all thy mind ; and thy neighbor as thyself. 

"Thou hast answered right," said Christ; "this do and 
thou shalt live." The lawyer had not done this. He knew 
that he had not loved others as himself. Instead of repent- 
ing, he tried to find an excuse for his selfishness. So he 
asked Jesus: — "Who is my neighbor?" Luke 10:25-29. 

The priests and rabbis often disputed about this question. 
They did not call the poor and ignorant their neighbors, 
and would show them no kindness. Christ took no part in 
their disputes; He answered the question by a story about 
something that had happened a short time before. 

A certain man, He said, was going down from Jerusa- 
lem to Jericho. The road was steep and rocky, and passed 
through a wild, lonely region. Here the man was seized 
by robbers, and stripped of all that he had. He was beaten 
and bruised, and left for dead. 

As he lay thus, a priest and then a Levite from the 
temple at Jerusalem came that way. But instead of helping 
the poor man, they passed by on the other side. 

These men had been chosen to minister in God's temple, 
and they ought to have been like Him, full of mercy and 
kindness. But their hearts were cold and unfeeling. 

After a time a Samaritan came near. The Samaritans 
were despised and hated by the Jews. To one of these 
people a Jew would not give so much as a drink of water 
or a morsel of bread. But the Samaritan did not stop to 
think of this. He did not stop even to think of the robbers 
who might be watching for him. 

There lay the stranger, bleeding and ready to die. The 
Samaritan took off his own cloak, and wrapped it about him. 

He gave him his own wine to drink, and poured oil on 
his wounds. He put him on his own beast, brought him 
to an inn, and took care of him all night. 



TEACHINGS OF CHRIST. 



6 7 



The next morning, before going away, he paid the inn- 
keeper to care for him till he should be strong again. So 
Jesus told the story. Then turning to the lawyer, He asked : — 
" Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbor 
unto him that fell among the thieves?" 

The lawyer answered, "He that showed mercy on him." 
Then Jesus said/' Go, and do thou likewise." Luke 
Io: 35 _ 37- So Jesus taught that every person who needs 
our help is our ___—— ___ 



are 



neighbor. We 
to treat him just 
as we ourselves 
would like to be 
treated. 

The priest and 
the Levite pretend- 
ed to keep God's 
commandments, 
but it was the 
Samaritan who 
really kept them. 
His heart was kind 
and loving. 

In taking care 
of the wounded 

stranger, he was showing love to God as well as to man. 
For it pleases God to have us do good to one another. We 
show our love for Him by being kind to those about us. 

A kind, loving heart is worth more than all the riches 
in the world. Those who live to do good show that they 
are children of God. They are the ones who will dwell 
with Christ in His kingdom. 




^vT 




[68] The Home of /lary and Martha. 

" But one thing is needful : and Mary hath chosen that good part S 



Sabbath=Keeping. 




HE Saviour kept the Sabbath, and 

taught His disciples to keep it. 

He knew how it should be kept, 

for He Himself had made it holy. 

The Bible says, "Remember 

the Sabbath day, to keep it holy." 

"The seventh day is the Sabbath 

of the Lord thy God." "For in 

six days the Lord made heaven 

and earth, the sea, and all that in 

them is, and rested the seventh 

day; wherefore the Lord blessed 

WcuSfjonfj ihmc fand* the Sabbath day, and hallowed it." 

Exodus 20:8,10,11; 31:16,17. 

Christ had worked with His Father in creating the 

earth, and He had made the Sabbath. The Bible say that 

"all things were made by Him." John 1:3. 

When we look on the sun and the stars, the trees and 
the beautiful flowers, we should remember that Christ made 
them all. And He made the Sabbath to help us keep in 
mind His love and power. 

The Jewish teachers had made many rules about the 
way to keep the Sabbath, and they wanted every one to 
obey their rules. So they watched the Saviour, to see what 
He would do. 

One Sabbath, as Christ and His disciples were going 
home from the synagogue, they passed through a field of 
grain. It was late, and the disciples were hungry. So they 

[69] 




[70} In the Grain Fields. 

" Behold, Thy disciples do that which is not law/til to do upon the Sabbath day.' 



SABBATH-KEEPING. 7 1 

broke off some of the heads of grain, rubbed them in their 
hands, and ate the kernels. 

On any other day, one passing through a field or an 
orchard was allowed to gather what he wanted to eat. But 
it was not so on the Sabbath. Christ's enemies saw what 
the disciples were doing, and they said to the Saviour: — 

" Behold, Thy disciples do that which is not lawful to 
do upon the Sabbath day." Matthew 12:2. 

But Christ defended His followers. He reminded His 
accusers of David, who, when in need, had eaten of the 
sacred bread of the tabernacle, and had given it to his hun- 
gry followers. 

If it was right for David when hungry to eat this sacred 
bread, then was it not right for the disciples when hungry 
to pluck the grain on the sacred hours of the Sabbath? 

The Sabbath was not made to be a burden to man. It 
was to do him good, to give him peace and rest. Therefore 
our Lord said, " The Sabbath was made for man, and not 
man for the Sabbath." Mark 2:27. 

"And it came to pass also on another Sabbath, that He 
entered into the synagogue and taught; and there was a 
man whose right hand was withered. 

" And the scribes and Pharisees watched Him, whether 
He would heal on the Sabbath day; that they might find 
an accusation against Him. 

"But He knew their thoughts, and said to the man 
which had the withered hand, Rise up, and stand forth in 
the midst. And he arose and stood forth. • 

"Then said Jesus unto them, I will ask you one thing: 
Is it lawful on the Sabbath days to do good, or to do evil? 
to save life, or to destroy it?" 

" And when He had looked round about on them with 
anger, being grieved for the hardness of their hearts, He 



7 2 SABBATH-KEEPING. 

saith unto the man, Stretch forth thine hand. And he 
stretched it out; and his hand was restored whole as the 
other." 

" And they were filled with madness ; and communed one 
with another what they might do to Jesus." Luke 6:6-9, 
11; Mark 3:5. 

The Saviour showed how unreasonable they were, by ask- 
ing them a question. " And He said unto them, What man 
shall there be among you that shall have one sheep, and 
if it fall into a pit on the Sabbath day, will he not lay 
hold on it, and lift it out?" 

This they could not answer. So He said, " How much 
then is a man better than a sheep? Wherefore it is lawful 
to do well on the Sabbath days." Matthew 12: 11, 12. 

"It is lawful;" that is, it is according to law. Christ 
never reproved the Jews for keeping the law of God, or for 
honoring the Sabbath. On the contrary, He ever upheld 
the law in all' its completeness. 

Isaiah prophesied of Christ, " He will magnify the law, 
and make it honorable." Isaiah 42: 21. To magnify is to 
make larger, to raise to a higher position. 

Christ magnified the law by showing in every part its 
wonderful meaning. He showed that it is to be obeyed, not 
only in the actions, which are seen by men, but in the 
thoughts, which are known only to God. 

To those who claimed that He came to set aside the 
law, He said, " Think not that I am come to destroy the 
law, or the prophets ; I am not come to destroy, but to ful- 
fill." Matthew 5: 17. 

To fulfill means to keep, or perform. James 2:8. So 
when He came to be baptized by John the Baptist, He said, 
"Thus it becometh us to fulfill all righteousness." Matthew 
3: 15. To fulfill the law is to obey it perfectly. 



SABBATH-KEEPING. 7 3 

God's law can never be changed; for Christ said, "Till 
heaven and earth pass, one jot or one tittle shall in no 
wise pass from the law, till all be fulfilled. Matthew 5: 18. 

When He asked the question, " Is it lawful on the Sab- 
bath days to do good, or to do evil ? to save life, or to 
destroy it?" Christ showed that He could read the hearts 
of the wicked Pharisees who accused Him. 

While He was trying to save life by healing the sick, 
they were trying to destroy life by putting Him to death. 
Was it better to slay upon the Sabbath, as they were plan- 
ning to do, than to cure the suffering ones, as He had done? 

Was it better to have murder in the heart on God's 
holy day than to have love toward all men, — love which is 
shown in kindness and deeds of mercy? 

Many times the Jews charged Christ with breaking the 
Sabbath. Often they tried to kill Him because He did not 
keep it according to their traditions. But this made no 
difference with Him. He kept the Sabbath as God wanted 
it to be kept. 

In Jerusalem there was a large pool of water called 
Bethesda. At certain times this pool was troubled; the 
people believed that an angel of the Lord went down into 
it, and stirred the waters, and that the first one who stepped 
in after the waters were stirred would be cured of whatever 
disease he had. . 

Great \ numbers of people came to the place, hoping to 
be cured; but most of them were disappointed. At the 
moving of the waters there was such a crowd, that many 
could not even get to the edge of the pool. 

One Sabbath day Jesus came to Bethesda. His heart 
was filled with pity as He saw the poor sufferers there. 

One man seemed more wretched than the others. For 
thirty-eight years he had been a helpless cripple. No doc- 



74 



SABBATH-KEEPING. 



tor could cure him. Many times he had been brought to 
Bethesda ; but when the waters were troubled, another would 
step in before him. 

On this Sabbath he had tried once more to reach the 
pool, but in vain. Jesus saw him as he crept back to the 
mat which was his bed. His strength was almost gone. 

Unless help should come soon, he must 
die. 

As he lay thus, now and then lift- 
ing his eyes to look at the pool, a lov- 
ing face bent over 
him, and he heard a 
voice say, " Wilt thou 
be made whole ?" 

The man answered 

sorrowfully, "Sir, I 

have no man, when 

the water is troubled, 

to put me into the 

pool ; but while I am 

coming, another step- 

peth down before me." 

He did not know 

that the One beside 

him could heal, not 

one only, but all who 

should come to Him. Christ said to the man : — 

" Rise, take up thy bed, and walk." . 

At once he tried to obey the command, and strength 

came to him. He sprang to his feet, and found that he 

could stand and could walk. What a delight it was! 

He took up his bed and hurried away, praising God at 
every step. Soon he met some of the Pharisees, and told 




Jesus at the Pool. 



SABBATH-KEEPING. 



75 



them of his wonderful cure. They did not seem glad, but 
reproved him for carrying his bed on the Sabbath day. 
The man told them, " He that made me whole, the same 

said unto me, Take up thy 

bed, and walk. " John 5 : 1-1 1 . 

Then they were no longer 

displeased with him, but they 




"Take up thy bed and walk." 

blamed the one who had 
told him to carry his bed 
on the Sabbath day. 

At Jerusalem, where the 
Saviour now was, many of 
the learned rabbis lived. 
Here their false ideas about 
the Sabbath were taught to 
the people. Great numbers 
came to worship at the tem- 
ple, and thus the rabbis ' 
teaching was spread far and wide. Christ wished to correct 
these errors. This was why He healed the man on the 
Sabbath day, and told him to carry his bed. He knew that 



j6 SABBATH-KEEPING. 

this act would attract the attention of the rabbis, and thus 
would give Him an opportunity to instruct them. So it proved. 
The Pharisees brought Christ before the Sanhedrim, the chief 
council of the Jews, to answer the charge of Sabbath-breaking. 

The Saviour declared that His action was in harmony 
with the Sabbath law. It was in harmony with the will 
and the work of God. " My Father worketh hitherto," He 
said, "and I work." John 5: 17. 

God works continually in sustaining every living thing. 
Was His work to cease upon the Sabbath day? Should 
God forbid the sun to fulfill its office on the Sabbath? 
Should He cut off its rays from warming the earth and 
nourishing vegetation? 

Should the brooks stay from watering the fields, and 
the waves of the sea still their ebbing and flowing? Must 
the wheat and maize stop growing, and the trees and flowers 
put forth no bud or blossom on the Sabbath? 

Then man would miss the fruits of the earth, and the 
blessings that sustain his life. Nature must continue her 
work, or man would die. And man also has a work to do 
on this day. The necessities of life must be attended to, 
the sick must be cared for, the wants of the needy must be 
supplied. God does not desire His creatures to suffer an hour's 
pain that may be relieved on the Sabbath or any other day. 

Heaven's work never ceases, and we should never rest 
from doing good. Our own work the law forbids us to do 
on the rest-day of the Lord. The toil for a livelihood must 
cease ; no labor for worldly pleasure or profit is lawful upon 
that day. But the Sabbath is not to be spent in useless 
inactivity. As God ceased from His labor of creating, and 
rested upon the Sabbath, so we are to rest. He bids us lay 
aside our daily occupations, and devote those sacred hours 
to healthful rest, to worship, and to holy deeds. 



The Good Shepherd. 




HE Saviour spoke of Himself as a 

shepherd, and of the disciples as His 

flock. He said: "I am the Good 

Shepherd, and know My sheep, and 

am known of Mine." John 10 : 14. 

Christ was soon to leave His 

disciples, and He said this to give 

them comfort. When He should 

be no more with them, they would 

remember His words. 

Whenever they saw a shepherd 
watching his flock, they would 
think of the Saviour's love and 
care for them. 

In that land the shepherd 
stayed with his flock day and night. Over the rocky hills 
and through the forests he led them by day, to pleasant, 
grassy fields by the river-side. 

Through the night he watched them, guarding them from 

wild beasts and from robbers, that were often lurking near. 

Tenderly he cared for the feeble and sickly ones. The 

little lambs he took in his arms, and carried in his bosom. 

However large the flock, the shepherd knew every sheep. 

He had a name for each, and called it by its name. 

So Christ, the heavenly Shepherd, cares for His flock 
that is scattered throughout the world. He knows us all 
by name. He knows the very house in which we live, and 
the name of each inmate. He cares for each one as if 

there were not another in the whole world, 

[77] 







[78] "She hath done what she could." 

"Her sins, which are many, are forgiven : for she loved much." 



THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 79 

The shepherd went before his sheep, and met all the 
dangers. He encountered the wild beasts and the robbers. 
Sometimes the shepherd was killed while guarding his flock. 

So the Saviour guards His flock of disciples. He has 
gone before us. He has lived on earth, as we live. He was 
a child, a youth, a man. He overcame Satan and all his 
temptations, so that we may overcome. 

He died to save us. Though now He is in Heaven, He 
does not forget us for a moment. He will safely keep every 
sheep. Not one that follows Him can be taken by the great 
enemy. 

A shepherd might have a hundred sheep, but if one was 
missing he did not stay with those that were in the fold. 
He went to search for the lost one. 

Out in the dark night, through the storm, over mount- 
ains and valleys, he would go. He would not rest till the 
sheep was found. 

Then he took it in his arms, and carried it back to the 
fold. He did not complain of the long, hard search, but 
gladly said : — 

" Rejoice with me ; for I have found my sheep which 
was lost." Luke 15 : 4-7. 

So the care of the Saviour-Shepherd is not for those only 
who are in the fold. He says, " The Son of man is come 
to save that which was lost." Matthew 18:11. 

"I say unto you, That likewise joy shall be in Heaven 
over one sinner that repenteth, more than over ninety and 
nine just persons, which need no repentance." Luke 15:7. 

We have sinned, and have wandered away from God. 
Christ says we are like the sheep that has wandered away 
from the fold. He came to help us live without sin. This 
He calls bringing us back to the fold. 

When we return with the Shepherd, and cease to sin, 



8o the good shepherd. 

Christ says to the angels in Heaven : " Rejoice with Me ; 
for I have fonnd My sheep which was lost." 

* And a joyful anthem rings ont from the angelic choir, 
rilling all Heaven with richest melody. 

Christ presents to us no picture of a sorrowful shepherd 
returning without the sheep. Here is a pledge that not 
even one of the straying sheep of God's fold is overlooked. 

Not one is left unhelped. Every one that will submit to 
be ransomed, the Saviour will rescue from the wilds of sin. 

Then let every wanderer from the fold take courage. 
The Good Shepherd is searching for you. Remember that 
His work is "to save that which is lost." That means you. 

To doubt the possibility of your salvation is to doubt 
the saving power of Him who purchased you at an infinite 
cost. Let faith take the place of unbelief. Look at the 
hands that were pierced for you, and rejoice in their power 
to save. 

Remember that God and Christ are interested in you, 
and that all the host of Heaven are engaged in the work 
for the salvation of sinners. 

While Christ was on earth, He showed by His miracles 
that He had power to save unto the uttermost. By curing 
the diseases of the body, He showed that He was able to 
take away sin from the heart. 

He caused the lame to walk, the deaf to hear, and the 
blind to see. He cleansed the poor lepers, and healed the 
man with palsy, and those who had all kinds of diseases. 

By His word, even the devils were driven out from the 
ones whom they had been possessing. Those who saw this 
wonderful work were astonished, and said: "What a word 
is this ! for with authority and power He commandeth the 
unclean spirits, and they come out ! " Luke 4 : 36. 

At the command of Jesus, Peter was able to walk on the 



THE GOOD SHEPHERD. 



water. But he had to keep his eyes on the Saviour. As 
soon as he looked away, he began to doubt and sink. 

Then he cried, ''Lord, save me," and the Saviour's hand 
was stretched forth to lift him up. Matthew 14:28-31. So 
whenever one cries to Him for help, the hand of Christ is 
stretched forth to save. 




The Sav- 
iour raised 
the dead to 
life. One of 
these was the 
widow's son at 
Nain. The 
people were 
carrying him 
to the grave, 
when they 
met Jesus. 
He took the 
young man by 

the hand, lifted him up, and gave him alive to his mother. 
Then the company went back to their homes with shouts of 
rejoicing and praise to God. 

So also the daughter of Jairus was raised, and by Christ's 
word, Lazarus, who had been dead four days, was called 
forth from the tomb. 

So when Christ shall come to earth again, His voice 



The Helping Hand. 




[82] 



Raising the Widow's Son. 

And He delivered him unto his mother.' 1 



the good shepherd. 83 

will pierce the tombs, and "the dead in Christ shall rise" 
to glorious, immortal life; and so shall they " ever be with 
the Lord." 1 Thessalonians 4:16, 17. 

It was a wonderful work done by our Lord during His 
ministry on earth. Of this work He spoke in the answer 
He sent to John the Baptist. John was in prison, and had 
become despondent; he was even troubled by doubts as to 
whether Jesus was really the Messiah. So he sent some of 
his followers to ask the Saviour: — 

" Art Thou He that should come, or do we look for 
another? " 

When the messengers came to Jesus, there were about 
Him many sick, whom He was healing. All day the mes- 
sengers waited, while He worked with tireless activity to 
help the suffering ones. At last He said: — 

" Go and show John again those things which ye do hear 
and see : the blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the 
lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised 
up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them." Mat- 
thew 11 : 3-5. 

So, for three years and a half, Jesus "went about doing 
good." Then the time came for His ministry on earth to 
be finished. With His disciples He must go up to Jerusa- 
lem to be betrayed, condemned, and crucified. 

Thus were to be fulfilled His own words, " The Good 
Shepherd giveth His life for the sheep." John 10: n. 

"Surely He hath borne our griefs, and carried our sor- 
rows. . . . He was wounded for our transgressions, He was 
bruised for our iniquities ; the chastisement of our peace was 
was upon Him; and with His stripes we are healed. All 
we like sheep have gone astray; we have turned every one 
to his own way ; and the Lord hath laid on Him the iniquity 
of us all." Isaiah 53 : 4-6. 




V 




[84J 



The Lost Sheep Found. 

'He layeth it on his shoulders, rejoicing. 



sis*, 

3PM «*■ 




he Ninety and Nine, 



There were ninety and nine that safely 
In the shelter of the fold, [lay 

But one was out on the hills away, 
Far off from the gates of gold ; 

Away on the mountains wild and bare, 

Away from the tender Shepherd 's care. 



" Lord, Thou hast here Thy ninety and nine ; 

Are they not enough for Thee ? ' ' 
But the Shepherd made answer : ' ' One of Mine 

Has wandered away from Me ; 
And although the road be rough and steep, 
I go to the desert to find My sheep. " 

But none of the ransomed ever knew 

How deep were the waters crossed ; 
Nor how dark was the night that the Lord passed through 

Ere He found His sheep that was lost. 
Far out in the desert He heard its cry, 
Fainting and helpless and ready to die. 

" Lord, whence are these blood-drops all the way, 

That mark out the mountain 's track ? ' ' 
' ' They were shed for one who had gone astray, 

Ere the Shepherd could bring him back. ' ' 
4 ' Lord, why are Thy hands so rent and torn ? ' ' 
" They are pierced to-night by many a thorn. " 



But all through the mountains, thunder-riven, 

And up from the rocky steep, 
There rose a cry to the gate of Heaven, 
"Rejoice, I have found My sheep ! " 
And the angels sang around the throne, 
Rejoice, for the Lord brings back His own ! " 



[85] 



Riding Into Jerusalem, 




ESUS was nearing Jerusalem to attend 
the passover. He was surrounded by 
multitudes who were also going up to 
this great yearly feast. 

At His command, two of the 
disciples brought an ass's colt 
that he might ride into Jerusalem. 
They spread their garments upon 
the beast, and placed their Master 
upon it. 

As soon as He was seated, a 
loud shout of triumph rent the 
air. The multitude hailed Him 
as Messiah, their King. More than five hundred years 
before, the prophet had foretold this scene: — 

" Rejoice greatly, O daughter of Zion ; . . . behold, thy 
King cometh unto thee ; . . . lowly, and riding upon an 
ass, and upon a colt the foal of an ass." Zechariah 9:9. 

All in the rapidly increasing throng were happy and 
excited. They could not offer Him costly gifts, but they 
spread their outer garments, as a carpet, in His path. 

They broke off the beautiful branches of the olive and 
the palm, and strewed them in the way. They thought 
they were escorting Christ to take possession of the throne 
of David in Jerusalem. 

The Saviour had never before allowed His followers to 

show Him kingly honors. But at this time He desired 

especially to manifest Himself to the world as its Redeemer. 

The Son of God was about to become a sacrifice for the 

[87] 



88 RIDING INTO JERUSALEM. 

sins of men. His church in all succeeding ages must make 
His death a subject of deep thought and study. It was 
necessary, then, that the eyes of all people should now be 
directed to Him. 

After such a scene as this, His trial and crucifixion 
could never be hidden from the world. It was God's design 
that each event in the closing days of the Saviour's, life 
should be so plainly marked that no power could cause it 
to be forgotten. 

In the vast multitude surrounding the Saviour were the 
evidences of His miracle-working power. 

The blind whom He had restored to sight were leading 
the way. 

The dumb whose tongues He had loosed, shouted the 
loudest hosannas. 

The cripples whom He had healed leaped for joy, and 
were most active in breaking the palm branches and waving 
them before Him. 

Widows and orphans were exalting the name of Jesus 
for His works of mercy to them. 

The loathsome lepers who had been cleansed by a word, 
spread their garments in the way. 

Those who had been raised from the dead by the life- 
giving voice of the Saviour were there. 

And Lazarus, whose body had seen corruption in the 
grave, but who was now enjoying the strength of glorious 
manhood, was with the happy throng that escorted the 
Saviour to Jerusalem. 

As new numbers were added to the throng, they caught 
the inspiration of the hour, and joined in the shouts that 
echoed and re-echoed from hill to hill and from valley to 
valley : — 

" Hosanna to the Son of David ! Blessed is He that 



RIDING INTO JERUSALEM. , 89 

cometh in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest." 
Matthew 21:9. 

Many Pharisees witnessed this scene, and were displeased. 
They felt that they were losing the control of the people. 
With all their authority they tried to silence them ; but 
their threats and appeals only increased the enthusiasm. 

Finding that they could not control the people, they 
pressed through the crowd to where Jesus was, and said to 
Him:— 

" Master, rebuke Thy disciples." 

They declared that such a tumult was unlawful, and 
would not be permitted by the rulers. 

Jesus said, "I tell you that if these should hold their 
peace, the stones would immediately cry out." Luke 19 : 39, 40. 

This scene of triumph was of God's own appointing; it 
had been foretold by the prophets, and no earthly power 
could stop it. The work of God will ever go forward, in 
spite of all that man may do to hinder it or tear it down. 

As the procession came to the brow of the hill over- 
looking Jerusalem, the full splendor of the city met their 
view. 

The vast multitude hushed their shouts, spell-bound by 
the sudden vision of beauty. All eyes turned upon the 
Saviour, expecting to see in His countenance the admira- 
tion which they themselves felt. 

Jesus halted, and a cloud of sorrow gathered upon His 
countenance, and the multitude were astonished to see Him 
burst into an agony of weeping. 

Those who surrounded the Saviour could not understand 
His grief; but He wept for the city that was doomed. 

It had been the child of His care, and His heart was 
filled with anguish as He realized that it would soon be 
made desolate. 




s 



& 



RIDING INTO JERUSALEM. 9 1 

Ha cT her people given heed to Christ's teaching, and 
received Him as the Saviour, Jerusalem would have " stood 
forever." 

She might have become the queen of kingdoms, free in 
the strength of her God-given power. 

There would then have been no armed soldiers waiting 
at her gates, no Roman banners waving from her walls. 

From Jerusalem the dove of peace would have gone to 




all nations. She would have been 
the crowning glory of the world. 
But the Jews had rejected their 
Saviour ; they were about to crucify 
their King. And when the sun 
should set that night, the doom 
of Jerusalem would be forever 
sealed. (About forty years after- 
ward, Jerusalem was utterly des- 
troyed and burned with fire by the Roman army.) 

Reports had come to the rulers that Jesus was nearing 
the city with a vast company of followers. . They went out 
to meet Him, hoping to scatter the throng. With a show 
of much authority they asked :— 
"Who is this?" Matthew 21: 10, 



9 2 



RIDING INTO JERUSALEM. 



The disciples, filled with the Spirit of inspiration, an- 
swered: "Adam will tell yon, it is the Seed of the woman 
that shall brnise the serpent's head." 

Ask Abraham, he will tell yon, It is Melchisedek, King 
of Salem, King of Peace." 

"Jacob will tell yon, He is Shiloh of the tribe of Jndah." 

" Isaiah will tell yon, Immannel, Wonderfnl, Counsellor, 
the mighty God, the everlasting Father, the Prince of 
Peace." 

"Jeremiah will tell yon, The Branch of David, the Lord, 
onr righteousness." 

" Daniel will tell yon, He is the Messiah." 

" Hosea will tell yon, He is the Lord God of Hosts, the 
Lord is His memorial." 

"John the Baptist will tell yon, He is the Lamb of 
God that taketh away the sin of the world." 

"The great Jehovah has proclaimed from His throne, 
This is My beloved Son." 

"We, His disciples, declare, This is Jesns, the Messiah, 
the Prince of Life, the Redeemer." 

" And even the prince of the power of darkness acknowl- 
edges Him, saying, I know Thee who Thou art, the Holy 
One of God!" 




44 Take These Things Hence." 




HE next day Christ entered the 

temple. Three years before, He had 

fonnd men buying and selling in the 

outer court, and had rebuked them 

and driven them out. 

Now as He came again to the 

temple, He found the same traffic still 

carried on. The court was filled with 

cattle, sheep, and birds. These were 

sold to those who wished to offer 

sacrifice for their sins. 

Extortion and robbery were practiced b}' those engaged 

in this traffic. So great was the babel of sounds from the 

court, that it seriously disturbed the worshipers within. 

Christ stood on the steps of the temple, and again His 

piercing gaze swept over the court. All eyes were turned 

toward Him. The voices of the people and the noise of the 

cattle were hushed. All looked with astonishment and awe 

upon the Son of God. 

The divine flashed through the human, and gave Jesus 

a dignity and glory He had never manifested before. The 

silence became almost unbearable. 

At last He said in clear tones, and with a power that 

swayed the people like a mighty tempest : — 

"'It is written, My house is the house of prayer; but ye 

have made it a den of thieves." Luke 19: 46. 

With still greater authority than He had manifested 

three years before, He commanded: — 

" Take these things hence." 

[93] 




Cleansing the Temple. 

' Take these things hence.'''' 



U TAKE THESE THINGS HENCE." 95 

Once before the priests and rulers of the temple had fled 
at the sound of this voice. Afterward they were ashamed of 
their fear. They felt that they would never flee in this way 
again. 

Yet they were now more terrified, and in greater haste 
than before to obey His command, and they rushed from 
the temple, driving their cattle before them. 

Soon the court was filled with people who brought their 
sick to be healed by Jesus. Some were dying. These 
afflicted ones felt their distressing need. 

They fixed their eyes imploringly upon the face of 
Christ, fearing to see there the severity which had driven 
out the buyers and sellers. But they saw in His face only 
love and tender pity. 

Jesus kindly received the sick, and disease and suffering 
fled at the touch of His hand. He tenderly gathered the 
children in His arms, soothed their fretful cries, banished 
sickness and pain from their little forms, and handed them 
back, smiling and healthy, to their mothers. 

What a scene to greet the priests and rulers as they 
cautiously made their, way back to the temple ! They heard 
the voices of men, women, and children praising God. 

They saw the sick healed, the blind restored to sight, 
the deaf receive their hearing, and the lame leap for joy. 

The children took the lead in these rejoicings. They 
repeated the hosannas of the day before, and waved palm 
branches before the Saviour. The temple echoed and re- 
echoed with their shouts : — 

"Hosanna to the Son of David? 

" Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord!" 
Matthew 21:9. 

" Behold, thy King cometh unto thee; He is just, and 
having salvation." Zechariah 9:9. 



9 6 



TAKE THESE THINGS HENCE." 



The rulers tried to silence the shouts of the happy 
children, but all were filled with joy and praise for the 
wonderful works of Jesus, and they would not be silenced. 

The rulers then turned to the Saviour, hoping that He 
would command them to cease. They said to Him :- 

"Hearest Thou what these say?" 

Jesus replied, "Yea; have ye never 
read, Out of the mouth of babes and 
sucklings thou hast perfected praise?" 
Matthew 21 : 16. 




v\ o/7?[e movth-s 0/ babes arjd 
sucklings thow fy&st pep/ected praise" 

The blessed privilege of heralding the birth of Christ 
and forwarding His work in the earth had been refused by 
the haughty rulers of the people. 

His praises must be sounded ; and God chose the chil- 
dren to do it. Had the voices of those rejoicing children 
been silenced, the very pillars of the temple would have 
cried out in the Saviour's praise. 



At the Passover Supper, 



children of Israel ate the first passover sup- 
per at the time of their release from bond- 
age in Egypt. 

rod had promised to set them free. 
s had told them that the first-born 
on in every family of the Egyptians 
was to be slain. 

He had told them to mark their 
own door posts with the blood of the 
slain lamb, that the angel of 
death might pass them by. 

The lamb itself they were to 
roast and eat at night, with 
unleavened bread and with bitter 
herbs, which represented the bit- 
terness of their slavery. 
When they ate the lamb, they must be all ready for a 
journey. They must have their shoes on their feet, and their 
staves in their hands. 

They did as the Lord had said, and that very night the 
king of Egypt sent them word that they might go free. In 
the morning they started on their way to the land of 
promise. 

So every year, the same night on which they left Egypt, 
all the Israelites kept the feast of the passover at Jerusalem. 
At this feast each family had a roasted lamb, with bread 
and bitter herbs, as their forefathers had in Egypt. And 
they told their children the story of God's goodness in free- 
ing His people from slavery. 

[97] 





H •* 



AT THE PASSOVER SUPPER. 99 

The time had now come when Christ was to keep the 
feast with His disciples, and He told Peter and John to find 
a place, and make ready the passover snpper. 

A great many people came to Jerusalem at this time, and 
those who lived in the city were always ready to give a room 
in their houses for visitors to keep the feast. 

The Saviour told Peter and John that when they had 
gone into the street, they would meet a man carrying a 
pitcher of water. Him they were to follow, and they were 
to go into the house where he went. And they were to say 
to the good man of that house: — 

" The Master saith unto thee, Where is the guest cham- 
ber, where I shall eat the passover with My disciples?" 

This man would then show them a large upper room 
furnished for their needs; there they were to prepare the 
passover supper. And it all happened just as the Saviour 
had told them it would. 

At the passovor supper the disciples were alone with 
Jesus. The time they spent with Him at these feasts had 
always been a time of joy; but now He was troubled in 
spirit. 

At last He said to them in tones of touching sadness : — . 

" With desire I have desired to eat this passover with you 
before I surfer." 

There was sweet wine on the table, and He took a cup 
of it, "and gave thanks, and said: — 

" Take this, and divide it among yourselves ; for I say 
unto you, I will not drink of the fruit of the vine, until the 
kingdom of God shall come." Luke 22: 11, 15, 17, 18. 

This was the last time that Christ was to keep the feast 
with His disciples. It was really the last passover that was 
ever to be kept. For the lamb was slain to teach the peo- 
ple about Christ's death ; and when Christ, the Lamb of God, 

LofC. 




[loo] "The Cup After Supper." 

" This cup is the new testament in my blood, which is shed for you." 



AT THK PASSOVER SUPPER. IOI 

should be slain for the sins of the world, there would be 
no need of slaying a lamb to represent His death. 

When the Jews sealed their rejection of Christ by put- 
ting Him to death, they rejected all that gave to this feast 
its value and significance. Henceforth its observance by 
them was a worthless form. 

As Christ joined in the paschal service, there was before 
His mind the scene of His last great sacrifice. He was now 
in the shadow of the cross, and the pain was torturing His 
heart. He knew all the anguish that awaited Him. 

He knew the ingratitude and cruelty that would be 
shown Him by those He had come to save. But it was not 
of His own suffering that He thought. He pitied those 
who would reject their Saviour and lose eternal life. 

And the thought of His disciples was uppermost in His 
mind. He knew that after His own suffering was over, 
they would be left to struggle in the world. 

He had much to tell them that would be a stay to their 
hearts when He should walk no more with them. Of these 
things He had hoped to speak at this their last meeting 
before His death. 

But He could not tell them now. He saw that they 
were not ready to listen. 

There had been a contention among them. They still 
thought that Christ was soon to be made king, and each 
of them wanted the highest place in His kingdom. So they 
had jealous and angry feelings toward one another. 

There was another cause of trouble. At a feast it was 
the custom for a servant to wash the feet of the guests, 
and on this occasion preparation had been made for the 
service. The pitcher of water, the basin, and the towel were 
there, ready for the feet-washing. But no servant was pres- 
ent, and it was the disciples' part to perform it. 



102 



AT THE PASSOVER SUPPER. 



But each of the disciples thought that he would not be 
a servant to his brethren. He was not willing to wash 
their feet. So, in silence they had taken their places at 
the table. 

Jesus waited awhile to see what they would do. Then 
He Himself rose from the table. He girded Himself with 

the towel, poured water 
into the basin, and be- 

sci- 




ples' feet. He had 
been grieved by their 
contention, but He did 
not reprove them by 
sharp words. He 
showed His love by 
acting as a servant to 
His own disciples. When He had finished, He said to them : — 

" If I then, your Lord and Master, have washed your 
feet ; ye also ought to wash one another's feet. For I have 
given you an example, that ye should do as I have done 
to you." John 13: 14, 15. 

In this way Christ taught them that they ought to help 
one another. Instead of seeking the highest place for him- 
self, each should be willing to serve his brethren. 



AT THE PASSOVER SUPPER. 103 

The Saviour came into the world to work for others. 
He lived to help and save those who are needy and sinful. 
He wants us to do as He did. 

The disciples were now ashamed of their jealousy and 
selfishness. Their hearts were filled with love for their Lord 
and for one another. Now they could give heed to Christ's 
teaching. 

As they were still at the table, Jesus took bread, and 
gave thanks, and broke it, and gave to them, saying, u This 
is My body which is given for you ; this do in remembrance 
of me. 

" Likewise also the cup after supper, saying, This cup 
is the new testament in My blood, which is shed for you." 
Luke 22 : 19, 20. 

The Bible says, " As often as ye eat this bread, and 
drink this cup, ye do show the Lord's death till He come." 
1 Corinthians 11 : 26. 

The bread and the wine represent the body and the 
blood .of Christ. As the bread was broken, and the wine 
poured out, so on the cross Christ's body was broken, and 
His blood shed to save us. 

By eating the bread and drinking the wine, we show 
that we believe this. We show that we repent of our sins, 
and that we receive Christ as our Saviour. 

As the disciples sat at the table with Jesus, they saw 
that He still seemed greatly troubled. A cloud settled on 
them all, and they ate in silence. 

At last Jesus spoke and said, " Verily I say unto you, 
That one of you shall betray Me." 

The disciples were grieved and amazed at these words. 
Each began to look into his heart to see if there was any 
shadow of an evil thought against their Master. 

One after another they asked, "Lord, is it I?" 



io4 



AT THE PASSOVER SUPPER. 



Judas alone remained silent. This drew the eyes of all 
to him. When he saw that he was observed, he too asked, 
" Master, is it I?" 

And Jesus solemnly replied, "Thou has said." Matthew 
26: 21, 22, 25. 

Jesus had washed 
the feet of Judas, but 
this had not caused 
him to love the Sav- 
iour more. He was 
angry that Christ 
should do a servant's 
work. Now he knew 
that Christ would not 
be made king, and he 
was the more deter- 
mined to betray Him. 

When he saw that 
his purpose was known, 
even this did not cause 
him to fear. In anger 
he quickly left the 
room, and went away 
to carry out his wicked 
plan. 

The going of Judas 
was a relief to all present. The Saviour's face lighted, and 
at this the shadow was lifted from the disciples. 

Christ now talked for some time with His disciples. He 
was going to His Father's house, He said, to make a place 
ready for them, and He would come again to take them to 
Himself. 

He promised to send the Holy Spirit to be their teacher 




Departure of Judas. 



AT THE PASSOVER SUPPER. 



I05 



and comforter while He was gone. He told them to pray 
in His name, and their prayers wonld snrely be answered. 

He then prayed for them, asking that they might be 
kept from evil, and might love one another as He had 
loved them. 

Jesns prayed for ns as well as for the first disciples. 
He said: — 

" Neither pray I for these alone, bnt for them also which 
shall believe on Me through their word; that they all may 
be one; as Thou, Father, art in Me, and I in Thee, that 
they also may be one in us : that the world may believe 
that Thou hast sent Me, . . . and hast loved them, as Thou 
hast loved Me." John 17: 20-23. 





< 



k 



« 



In Gethsemane. 




HE Saviour's life on earth was a 
life of prayer. Many were trie 
hours He spent alone with God. 
Often did He send up His earn- 
est petitions to His heavenly 
Father. Thus He received 
strength and wisdom to sustain 
Him in His work, and to keep 
Him from falling under the temp- 
tations of Satan. 

After eating the passover 
supper with His disciples, Jesus went with them to the 
garden of Gethsemane, where He often went to pray. As 
He walked, He talked with them, and taught them ; but as 
they neared the garden, He became strangely silent. 

All His life, Jesus had lived in the presence of His 
Father. The Spirit of God had been His constant guide 
and support. He always gave God the glory for His works 
on earth, and said, "I can of Mine own self do nothing/' 
John 5 : 30. 

We can do nothing of ourselves. It is only by relying 
on Christ for all our strength that we can overcome, and 
do His will on earth. We must have the same simple, 
childlike trust in Him that He had in His Father. Christ 
said, "Without Me ye can do nothing." John 15 : 5. 

The terrible night of agony for the Saviour began as 
they neared the garden. It seemed that the presence of 

[107] 



108 IN GETHSEMANE. 

God, which had been His support, was no longer with 
Him. He was beginning to feel what it was to be shut 
out from His Father. 

Christ must bear the sins of the world. As they were 
now laid upon Him, they seemed more than He could 
endure. The guilt of sin was so terrible, He was tempted 
to fear that God cotild no longer love Him. 

As He felt the awful displeasure of the Father against 
evil, the words were forced from Him, " My soul is exceed- 
ing sorrowful, even unto death." 

Near the gate of the garden, Jesus had left all His 
disciples except Peter, James, and John, and He had gone 
into the garden with these three. They were His most 
earnest followers, and had been His closest companions. 
But He could not bear that even they should witness the 
suffering He was to endure. He said to them : — 

" Tarry ye here, and watch with Me." Matthew 26 : 38. 

He went a short distance from them, and fell prostrate 
upon the ground. He felt that by sin He was being sep- 
arated from the Father. The gulf between them appeared 
so broad, so black, so deep, that He shuddered before it. 

Christ was not suffering for his own sins, but for the 
sins of the world. He was feeling the displeasure of God 
against sin as the sinner will feel it in the great judgment 
day. 

In His agony, Christ clung to the cold ground. From 
His pale lips came the bitter cry, " O My Father, if it be 
possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless not as I 
will, but as Thou wilt." Matthew 26: 39. 

For an hour Christ bore this terrible suffering alone. 
Then He came to the disciples, hoping for some word of 
sympathy. But no sympathy awaited Him, for they were 
asleep. They awoke at the sound of His voice, but they 



IN GETHSEMAXE. IOC) 

hardl}^ knew Him, His face was so changed by anguish. 
Addressing Peter, He said : — 

" Simon, sleepest thou? Couldest not thou watch one 
hour? " Mark 14 : 37. 

Just before He bent His footsteps to the garden, Christ 
had said to the disciples, "All ye shall be offended because 
of Me this night." They had given Him the strongest 
assurance that they would go with Him to prison and to 
death. And poor, self-sufficient Peter had added, "Although 
all shall be offended, } T et will not I." Mark 14: 27, 29. 

But the disciples trusted to themselves. They did not 
look to the Mighty Helper as Christ had counselled them 
to do. So when the Saviour was most in need of their 
sympathy and prayers, they were found asleep. Even Peter 
was sleeping. 

And John, the loving disciple who had leaned upon the 
breast of Jesus, was asleep. Surely the love of John for 
his Master should have kept him awake. His earnest 
prayers should have mingled with those of his loved Saviour 
in the time of His great agony. The Redeemer had spent 
whole nights in praying for His disciples, that their faith 
might not fail in the hour of trial. Yet they could not 
remain awake with Him even one hour. 

Had Christ now asked James and John, " Can ye drink 
of the cup that I drink of? and be baptized with the bap- 
tism that I am baptized with?" they would not have 
answered so readily as they did before, " We can." Mark 
10: 38, 39. 

The Saviour's heart was filled with pity and sympathy 
at the weakness of His disciples. He feared that they 
could not endure the test which His suffering and death 
would bring upon them. 

Yet He did not sternly reprove them for their weakness. 



no 



IN GETHSEMANE. 



He thought of the trials that were before them, and said : — 

" Watch and pray that ye enter not into temptation." 

He made an excuse for their failure in duty toward 

Him: " The spirit indeed is willing, but the flesh is weak." 

Matthew 26: 41. What an example of the tender, loving 

pity of the Saviour! 

Again the Son of 
God was seized with 
superhuman agony. 
Fainting and exhaust- 
ed, He staggered back, 
and prayed as before : — 
"O My Father, if 
this cup ma}^ not 
pass away from Me, 
except I drink it, 
Thy will be done." 
Matthew 26: 42. 

The agony of 
this prayer forced 
drops of blood from 
His pores. Again He 
sought the disciples for 
sympathy, and again He 
found them sleeping. His pres- 
ence aroused them. They looked upon 
His face with fear, for it was stained with blood. 
They could not understand the anguish of mind which His 
face expressed. 

The third time He sought the place of prayer. A horror 
of great darkness overcame Him. He had lost the presence 
of His Father. Without this, He feared that in His human 
nature He could not endure the test. 




IN GETHSEMANE. Ill 

The third time He prays the same prayer as before. 
Angels long to bring relief, bnt it may not be. The Son 
of God must drink this cup, or the world will be lost for- 
ever. He sees the helplessness of man. He sees the power 
of sin. The woes of a doomed world pass in review before 
Him. 

He makes the final decision. He will save man at any 
cost to Himself. He has left the courts of Heaven, where 
all is purity, happiness, and glory, to save the one lost 
sheep, the one world that has fallen by transgression, and 
He will not turn from His purpose. His prayer now breathes 
only submission: — 

" If this cup may not pass away from Me, except I drink 
it, Thy will be done." 

The Saviour now falls dying to the ground. No disciple 
is there, to place his hand tenderly beneath his Master's 
head, and bathe that brow, marred indeed more than the 
sons of men. Christ is alone ; of all the people there are 
none with Him. 

But God suffers with His Son. Angels behold the Sav- 
iour's agony. There is silence in Heaven. No harp is 
touched. Could men have viewed the amazement of the 
angelic host as in silent grief they watched the Father sep- 
arating His beams of light, love, and glory from His 
beloved Son, they would better understand how offensive in 
His sight is sin. 

A mighty angel now comes to the side of Christ. He 
lifts the head of the divine sufferer upon his bosom, and 
points toward Heaven. He tells Him that He has come 
off victor over Satan. As the result, millions will be victors 
in His glorious kingdom. 

A heavenly peace rests upon the Saviour's blood-stained 
face. He has borne that which no human being can ever bear ; 



112 



IN GETHSEMANE. 



for He has tasted the sufferings of death for every man. 

Again Christ sought His disciples, and again He found 
them sleeping. Had they remained awake, watching and 
praying with their Saviour, they would have received help 
for the trial before them. Missing this, they had no strength 
in their hour of need. 

Looking sorrowfully on them, Christ said, " Sleep on 
now, and take your rest ; behold, the hour is at hand, and 
the Son of man is betrayed into the hands of sinners." 

Even as He spoke these words, He heard the footsteps 
of the mob in search of Him, and said: — 

u Rise, let us be going; behold, he is at hand that doth 
betray Me." Matthew 26: 45, 46. 




The Betrayal and Arrest. 




traces of His recent suffering were to 
be seen as the Saviour stepped forth 
to meet His betrayer. Standing in 
advance of His disciples, He asked the 
mob : — 

"Whom seek ye?" 
They answered, " Jesus of Naz- 
areth." 

Jesus replied, " I am He." John 
18:4,5. 

As Jesus spoke these words," the 
angel who had recently ministered 
to Him moved between Him and the 
mob. A divine light illuminated the 
Saviour's face, and a dove-like form overshadowed Him.. 

In the presence of this divine glory the murderous 
throng could not stand for a moment. They staggered 
back. The priests, elders, and soldiers dropped as dead 
men to the ground. 

The angel withdrew, and the light faded away. Jesus 
could have escaped, but He remained, calm and self- 
possessed. His disciples were too much amazed to utter a 
word. 

The Roman soldiers soon started to their feet. With 
the priests and Judas, they gathered about Christ. They 
seemed ashamed of their weakness, and fearful that He 
would escape. Again the question was asked by the 
Redeemer : " Whom seek ye ? " 

Again they answered, Jesus of Nazareth." The Saviour 



ii4 



THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST. 



then said, "I have told you that I am He. If therefore ye 
seek Me, let these [pointing to His disciples] go their way." 
John 18: 7, 8. 

In this hour of trial, Christ's thoughts were for His 
beloved disciples. He did not wish to have them . suffer, 
even though He must go to prison and to death. 

Judas, the betrayer, did not forget the part he was to 
act. He came close to Jesus, and kissed Him. 

Jesus said to him, "Friend^ 




wherefore art thou come?" Matthew 
26:50. His voice trembled as He 
added, " Betrayest thou the Son of 
man with a kiss?" Luke 22 148. 
These gentle words should have 
touched the heart of Judas ; but all 
tenderness and honor seemed to 

have left him. Judas had yielded himself to the control of 

Satan. He stood boldly before the Lord, and was not 

ashamed to give Him up to the cruel mob. 

Christ did not refuse the traitor's kiss. In this He gave 

us an example of forbearance, loVe, and pity. If we are 



THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST. 1 15 

His disciples, we must treat our enemies as He treated 
Judas. 

The murderous throng became bold as they saw Judas 
touch the form which had so recently been glorified before 
their eyes. They now laid hold of the Saviour, and bound 
those hands that had ever been employed in doing good. 

The disciples did not think that Christ would allow 
Himself to be taken. They knew that the power which 
could strike down the mob as dead men could keep them 
helpless till Christ and His companions should escape. 

They were disappointed and indignant as they saw the 
cords brought forward to bind the hands of Him whom they 
loved. Peter, in his anger, rashly drew his sword, and tried 
to defend his Master. But he only cut off an ear of the 
high priest's servant. 

When Jesus saw what was done, He released His hands, 
though held firmly by the Roman soldiers, and saying, 
" Suffer ye thus far" (Luke 22:51), He touched the 
wounded ear, and it was instantly made whole. 

He then said to Peter, " Put up again thy sword into 
his place ; for all they that take the sword shall perish with 
the sword. Thinkest thou that I can not now pray to My 
Father, and He shall presently give Me more than twelve 
legions of angels? But how then shall the Scriptures be 
fulfilled, that thus it must be? " Matthew 26 : 52-54. " The 
cup which My Father hath given Me, shall I not drink 
it?" John 18:11. 

Christ then turned to the chief priests and the captains 
of the temple, who were with the mob, and said, "Are ye 
come out, as against a thief, with swords and with staves 
to take Me? I was daily with you in the temple teaching, 
and ye took Me not; but the Scripture must be fulfilled." 
Mark 14 : 48, 49. 



n6 



THE BETRAYAL AND ARREST. 



The disciples were offended when they saw that the 
Saviour made no effort to deliver Himself from His enemies. 
They blamed Him for not doing so. They could not under- 
stand His submission to the mob, and, terror-stricken, they 
forsook Him and fled. 

Christ had foretold this desertion. " Behold," He had 
said, "the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be 
scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave Me alone; 
and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with Me." 
John 16: 32. 







Before Annas, Caiaphas, and the 
Sanhedrim. 




'ESUS was followed from the garden of 

Gethsemane by the hooting mob. He 

moved painfully, for His hands 

were tightly bound, and He was 

closely guarded. 

He was taken first to the 
house of Annas, who had formerly 
been the high priest, but whose place 
was then filled by his son-in-law, 
Caiaphas. The wicked Annas had re- 
quested that he might be the first to see 
Jesus of Nazareth a bound captive. He 
hoped to draw from Him some evidence by which to secure 
His condemnation. 

With this in view he questioned the Saviour with regard 
to His disciples and His teachings. Christ answered : — 

"I spake openly to the world; I ever taught in the 
synagogue, and in the temple, whither the Jews always 
resort; and in secret have I said nothing." 

Then, turning upon the questioner, He said, "Why 
askest thou Me? Ask them which heard Me, what I have 
said." John 18: 20, 21. 

The priests themselves had set spies to watch Christ 
and report His every word. Through these spies they 
knew of His sayings and of His works at every gathering 
of the people He had attended. The spies had sought to 

[117] 



BEFORE ANNAS, CAIAPHAS, AND THE SANHEDRIM. 119 

entrap Him in His words, that they might find something 
by which to condemn Him. So the Savionr said, "Ask 
them which heard Me." Go to yonr spies. They have 
heard what I have said. They can tell yon what My 
teaching has been. 

The words of Christ were so searching and pointed that 
the priest felt that his prisoner was reading his very sonl. 

Bnt one of the servants of Annas, thinking that his 
master was not treated with proper respect, strnck Jesns in 
the face saying: — 

"Answerest Thou the high priest so?" 

To this Jesus niildly said: — 

" If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil ; but if 
well, why smitest thou Me?" John 18: 22, 23. 

Christ could have sommoned legions of angels from 
Heaven to His aid. But it was a part of His mission to 
endure in His humanity all the taunts and insults that 
men might heap upon Him. 

From the house of Annas, the Saviour was taken to the 
palace of Caiaphas. He was to be tried before the Sanhe- 
drim, and while its members were being called together, 
Annas and Caiaphas again questioned Him, but they gained 
no advantage. 

When the members of the Sanhedrim had assembled, 
Caiaphas took his seat as the president. On each side were 
the judges ; before them stood the Roman soldiers guarding 
the Saviour; back of these was the accusing mob. 

Caiaphas then bade Jesus work one of His mighty 
miracles before them. But the Saviour gave no sign that 
He heard a word. Had He responded by even one soul- 
searching look, such as He gave the buyers and sellers in 
the temple, the whole murderous throng would have been 
compelled to flee from His presence. 



120 BEFORE ANNAS, CAIAPHAS, AND THE SANHEDRIM. 

The Jews were at this time subject to the Romans, and 
were not allowed to punish any one with death. The San- 
hedrim could only examine the prisoner, and pass judg- 
ment to be ratified by the Roman authorities. 

To accomplish their wicked purpose, they must find 
something against the Saviour that would be regarded as 
criminal by the Roman governor. They could secure abund- 
ant evidence that Christ had spoken against the Jewish 
traditions and many of their ordinances. It was easy to 
prove that He had denounced the priests and scribes, and 
that He had called them hypocrites and murderers. But 
this would not be listened to by the Romans, for they 
themselves were disgusted with the pretentions of the 
Pharisees. 

Many charges were brought against Christ, but either 
the witnesses disagreed, or the evidence was of such a 
nature that it would not be accepted by the Romans. They 
tried to make Him speak in answer to their accusations, 
but He appeared as if He had not heard them. The silence 
of Christ at this time had been thus described by the 
prophet Isaiah: — 

"He was oppressed, and He was afflicted, yet He opened 
not His mouth : He is brought as a lamb to the slaughter, 
and as a sheep before her shearers is dumb, so He openeth 
not His mouth." Isaiah 53: 7. 

The priests began to fear that they would fail of obtain- 
ing any evidence which they could bring against their 
prisoner before Pilate. They felt that one last effort must 
be made. The high priest raised his right hand toward 
Heaven, and addressed Jesus in the form of a solemn 
oath : — 

" I adjure Thee by the living God, that Thou tell us 
whether Thou be the Christ, the Son of God." Matthew 26 : 63. 



BEFORE ANNAS, CAIAPHAS, AND THE SANHEDRIM. 121 



The Saviour never denied His mission or His relation 
to the Father. He could remain silent to personal insult, 
but He ever spoke plainly and decidedly when His work or 
Sonship to God was called in question. 

Every ear was bent to listen, and every eye was fixed 
upon Him as He answered: — 

"Thou hast said." 

In the custom of those days this was the same as an- 
swering, " Yes," or, " It is as thou 
hast said." This was the strongest 
form of an affirmative answer. A 
heavenly light seemed to 
illuminate the pale 
countenance of the Sav- 
iour as He added: — 

" Nevertheless I say 
unto you, Hereafter shall 
ye see the Son of man 
sitting on the right 
hand of power, and 
coming in the clouds 
of Heaven." Matthew 
26: 46. 

In this statement 
the Saviour presented the reverse of the scene then taking 
place. He pointed forward to the time when He shall 
occupy the position of supreme Judge of Heaven and earth. 
He will then be seated upon the Father's throne, and from 
His decisions there will be no appeal. 

He brought before His hearers a view of that day, when, 
instead of being surrounded and abused by a riotous mob, 
He will come in the clouds of Heaven with power and great 
glory. Then He will be escorted by legions of angels. Then 




122 BEFORE ANNAS, CAIAPHAS, AND THE SANHEDRIM. 



enemies, among 



He will pronounce sentence upon His 
whom will be that same accusing throng. 

As Jesus spoke the words declaring Himself to be the 
Son of God, and Judge of the world, the high priest rent 
his robe, as if to show his horror. He lifted his hands 
toward Heaven, and said: — 

u He hath spoken blasphemy; what further need have 




"He is guilty, put Him to death ! " 

we of witnesses ? behold, 
now ye have heard His 
blasphemy. What think ye?" The judges answered, "He 
is guilty of death." Matthew 26: 65, 66. 

It was contrary to the Jewish law to try a prisoner by 
night. Though the condemnation of Christ had been deter- 
mined, there must be a formal trial by day. 

Jesus was taken to the guard room, and there suffered 
mockery and abuse from the soldiers and the rabble. 

At daybreak He was again brought before His judges, 
and the final sentence of condemnation was pronounced. 

A satanic fury then took possession of the leaders and 



BEFORE ANNAS, CAIAPHAS, AND THE SANHEDRIM. 1 23 

the people. The roar of voices was like that of wild beasts. 
They made a rush for Jesus, crying, " He is guilty, put 
Him to death ! " and had it not been for the soldiers, He 
would have been torn in pieces. But Roman authority 
interposed, and by force of arms restrained the violence of 
the mob. 

Priests, rulers, and the rabble joined in abusing the 
Saviour. An old garment was thrown over His head ; and 
His persecutors struck Him in the face, saying: — 

" Prophecy unto us, Thou Christ, Who is he that smote 
Thee?" Matthew 26: 68. 

When the garment was removed, one of the mocking 
throng spat in the Saviour's face. 

The angels of God faithfully recorded every insulting 
look, word, and act against their beloved Commander. One 
day those base men who scorned and spat upon the calm, 
pale face of Christ will look upon it in its glory, shining 
brighter than the sun. 





[!24] Judas Selling Christ. 

"He could now sell his Lord for thirty pieces of silver. 



Judas. 




,HE Jewish rulers had been anxious to 
get Jesus into their power, but for 
fear of raising a tumult among the 
people they had not dared to take 
Him openly. So they had sought 
some one who would secretly betray 
Him, and had found in Judas, one 
of the twelve disciples, the man 
who would do this base act. 

Judas had naturally a strong 
love for money, but he had not 
always been wicked and corrupt 
enough to do such a deed as this. 
He had fostered the evil spirit of 
avarice until it had become the ruling motive of his life, 
and he could now sell his Lord for thirty pieces of silver, 
[about $17.00], the price of a slave. Exodus 21: 28-32. 
He could now betray the Saviour with a kiss in Gethsemane. 
But he followed every step of the Son of God, as He 
went from the garden to the trial before the Jewish rulers. 
He had no thought that the Saviour would allow the Jews 
to kill Him, as they had threatened to do. 

At every moment he expected to see Him released and 
protected by divine power, as had been done in the past. 
But as the hours went by, and Jesus quietly submitted to 
all the indignities that were heaped upon Him, a terrible 
fear came to the traitor, that he had indeed betrayed his 

Master to His death. 

[125] 



126 JUDAS. 

As the trial drew to a close, Judas could endure the 
torture of his guilty conscience no longer. All at once there 
rang through the hall a hoarse voice, which sent a thrill of 
terror to the hearts of all present: — 

He is innocent. Spare Him, O Caiaphas. He has done 
nothing worthy of death! 

The tall form of Judas was seen pressing through the 
startled crowd. His face was pale and haggard, and large 
drops of sweat stood on his forehead. Rushing to the 
throne of judgment, he threw down before the high priest 
the pieces of silver that had been the price of his Lord's 
betrayal. 

He eagerly grasped the robe of Caiaphas, and begged 
him to release Jesus, declaring that He had done no wrong. 
Caiaphas angrily shook him off, and said with scorn : — 

"What is that to us? see thou to that." Matthew 17: 4. 

Judas then threw himself at the Saviour's feet. He 
confessed that Jesus was the Son of God, and begged Him 
to deliver Himself from His enemies. 

The Saviour knew that Judas did not really repent for 
what he had done. The false disciple feared that punish- 
ment would come upon him for his terrible deed: but he 
felt no real sorrow because he had betrayed the spotless 
Son of God. 

Yet Christ spoke to him no word of condemnation. He 
looked with pity upon Judas, and said: — 

"For this hour came I into the world." 

A murmur of surprise ran through the assembly. With 
amazement they beheld the forbearance of Christ toward 
His betrayer. 

Judas saw that his entreaties were in vain, and he 
rushed from the hall, crying: — 

It is too late ! It is too late ! 



JUDAS. 



127 



He felt that he could not live to see Jesus crucified, and 
in despair went out and hanged himself. 

Later that same day, on the road from Pilate's judg- 
f ment-hall to Cavalry, the wicked throng were leading the 
Saviour to the place of crucifixion. Suddenly there came 
an interruption to their shouts and jeers. As they passed 
a retired spot, they saw at the foot of a lifeless tree the 
dead body of Judas. 

It was a revolting sight. His weight had broken the 
cord by which he had hanged himself to the tree. In fall- 
ing, his body had been horribly mangled, and the dogs 
were now devouring it. 

His remains were immediately buried out of sight; but 
there was less mockery, and many a pale face revealed the 
fearful thoughts within. Retribution seemed already to be 
visiting those who were guilty of the blood of Jesus. 




Before Pilate. 




FTER Christ had been condemned by the 

jndges of the Sanhedrim, He was taken 

at once to Pilate, the Roman governor, 

to have the sentence confirmed and 

execnted. 

The Jewish priests and rulers 
could not themselves enter the judg- 
ment hall of Pilate. By the cere- 
monial laws of their nation, they 
would become defiled by so doing, 
* and thus be debarred from taking 
part in the feast of the passover. 
In their blindness they did not 
see that Christ was the real pass- 
over lamb, and that since they had rejected Him, this great 
feast had for them lost its meaning. 

As Pilate beheld Jesus, he saw a man of noble counte- 
nance and dignified bearing. No trace of crime was to be 
seen in His face. Pilate turned to the priests and asked: — 
"What accusation bring ye against this man?" John 
18:29. 

His accusers did not wish to state particulars, and so 
were not prepared for this question. They knew that they 
could bring no truthful evidence on which the Roman gov- 
ernor would condemn Him. So the priests called the false 
witnesses to their aid. " And they began to accuse Him, 
saying : — 

"We found this fellow perverting the nation, and forbid- 



BEFORE PILATE. 



129 



ding to give tribute to Caesar, saying that He Himself is 
Christ a King." Luke 23:2. 

This was false, for Christ had plainly sanctioned the 
payment of tribute to Caesar. When the lawyers had tried 
to entrap Him in regard to this very matter, He had said : — 




"Art Thou the King of the Jews?" 

" Render therefore unto Caesar the things which are 
Caesar's." Matthew 22:21. 

Pilate was not deceived by the testimony of the false 
witnesses. He turned to the Saviour, and asked: — 

"Art Thou the King of the Jews?" 

Jesus answered, "Thou sayest." Matthew 27:11. 



I30 BEFORE PILATE. 

When they heard this answer, Caiaphas and those who 
were with him called Pilate to witness that Jesns had ad- 
mitted the crime of which they accused Him. With noisy 
cries they demanded that He be sentenced to death. 

As Christ made no answer to His accusers, Pilate said 
to Him : — 

"Answerest Thou nothing? behold how many things 
the3 T witness against Thee. 

"But Jesus yet answered nothing." Mark 15:4, 5. 

Pilate was perplexed. He saw 110 evidence of crime in 
Jesus, and he had no confidence in those who were accusing 
Him. The noble appearance and quiet manner of the Sav- 
iour were in direct contrast to the excitement and fury of 
His accusers. Pilate was impressed with this, and was well 
satisfied of His innocence. 

Hoping to gain the truth from Him, he took Jesus by 
Himself, and questioned Him :— 

"Art Thou the King of the Jews?" 

Christ did not give a direct answer to this question, but 
asked : — 

"Sayest thou this thing of thyself, or did others tell it 
thee of Me?" 

The Spirit of God was striving with Pilate. The ques- 
tion of Jesus was intended to lead him to examine his own 
heart more closely. Pilate understood the meaning of the 
question. His own heart was opened before him, and he 
saw that his soul was stirred by conviction. But pride arose 
in his heart, and he answered: — 

"Am I a Jew? Thine own nation and the chief priests 
have delivered Thee unto me : what hast Thou done ? " 

Pilate's golden opportunity had passed. But Jesus de- 
sired Pilate to understand that He had not come to be an 
earthly king, therefore He said : — 



BEFORE PILATE. 131 

" My kingdom is not of this world. If My kingdom 
were of this world, then would My servants fight, that I 
should not be delivered to the Jews ; but now is My king- 
dom not from hence.' ' 

Pilate then asked " Art Thou a king then? 

" Jesus answered, Thou sayest that I am a king. To this 
end was I born, and for this cause came I into the world, 
that I should bear witness unto the truth. Every one that 
is of the truth heareth My voice." 

Pilate had a desire to know the truth. His mind was 
confused. He eagerly grasped the words of the Saviour, 
and his heart was stirred with a great longing to know what 
the truth really was, and how he could obtain it. He asked 
Jesus : — 

"What is truth?" 

But he did not wait to receive an answer. The tumult 
of the crowd outside the hall of justice had increased to a 
roar. The priests were clamorous for immediate action, and 
Pilate was recalled to the interests of the hour. Going out 
to the people, He declared : — 

"I find in Him no fault at all." John 18: 33-38. 

These words from a heathen judge were a scathing- 
rebuke to the base perfidy and falsehood of the rulers of 
Israel who were accusing the Saviour. 

As the priests and elders heard this from Pilate, their 
disappointment and rage knew no bounds. They had long 
plotted and waited for this opportunit} 7 . As they saw the 
prospect of the release of Jesus, they seemed ready to tear 
Him in pieces. 

They lost all reason and self-control, and gave vent to 
curses, behaving more like demons than like men. They 
loudly denounced Pilate, and threatened him with the cen- 
sure of the Roman government. They accused Pilate of 



132 



BEFORE PILATE. 



refusing to condemn Jesus, who, they affirmed, had set Him- 
self up against Caesar. They then raised the cry: — 

" He stirreth up the people, teaching throughout all 
Jewry, beginning from Galilee to this place." Luke 23:5. 

Pilate at this time had no thought of condemning Jesus. 
He was sure of His innocence. But when he heard that 
Christ was from Galilee, he decided to send Him to Herod, 
the ruler of that province, who was then in Jerusalem. By 
this course Pilate thought to shift the responsibility of the 
trial from himself to Herod. 

Jesus was faint from hunger, and weary from loss of 
sleep. He was also suffering from the cruel treatment He 
had received. But Pilate delivered Him again to the sol- 
diers, and He was dragged away, amid the jeers and insults 
of the merciless mob. 




Before Herod. 




EROD had never met Jesus, but lie had 
long desired to see Him, and to wit- 
ness His marvelous power. As the 
Saviour was brought before him, the 
rabble surged and pressed about, some 
crying one thing, and some another. 
Herod commanded silence, for he wished 
to question the prisoner. 

He looked with curiosity and pity 
upon the pale face of Christ. He 
saw there the marks of deep wisdom 
and purity. He was satisfied, as 
Pilate had been, that malice and envy alone had caused the 
Jews to accuse the Saviour. 

Herod urged Christ to perform one of His wonderful 
miracles before him. He promised to release Him if He 
would do so. By his direction, crippled and deformed per- 
sons were brought in, and he commanded Jesus to heal them. 
But the Saviour stood before Herod as one who neither saw 
nor heard. 

The Son of God had taken upon Himself man's nature. 
He must do as man must do in similar circumstances. 
Therefore He would not work a miracle to gratify curiosity, 
or to save Himself from the pain and humiliation that man 
must endure when placed in a similar position. 

His accusers were terrified when Herod demanded of 
Christ a miracle. Of all things they dreaded most an exhi- 
bition of His divine power. Such a manifestation would be* 

[133] 




& 



BEFORE HEROD. 1 35 

a death-blow to their plans, and would perhaps cost them 
their lives. So they set up the cry that Jesus worked mira- 
cles through the power given Him by Beelzebub, the prince 
of the devils. 

Several years before this, Herod had listened to the 
teaching of John the Baptist. He had been deeply im- 
pressed, but he had not forsaken his life of intemperance 
and sin. So his heart grew harder, and at last in a drunken 
revel he had commanded that John should be slain to please 
the wicked Herodias. 

Now he had become still more hardened. He could not 
bear the silence of Jesus. His face grew dark with passion, 
and he angrily threatened the Saviour, who still remained 
unmoved and silent. 

Christ had come into the world to heal the broken- 
hearted. Could He have spoken any word to heal the 
bruises of sin-sick souls, He would not have kept silent. 
But He had no words for those who would but trample the 
truth under their unholy feet. 

The Saviour might have spoken to Herod words that 
would have pierced the ears of the hardened king. He 
might have stricken him with fear and trembling by laying 
before him the full iniquity of his life, and the horror of 
his approaching doom. But Christ's silence was the severest 
rebuke that He could have given. 

That ear which had ever been open to the cry of human 
woe, had no place for the command of Herod. That heart, 
ever touched by the plea of even the worst sinners, was 
closed to the haughty king who felt no need of a Saviour. 

In anger, Herod turned to the multitude, and denounced 
Jesus as an impostor. But the accusers of the Saviour knew 
that He was no impostor. They had seen too many of His 
mighty works to believe this charge. 



136 



BEFORE HEROD. 



Then the king began to shamefully abuse and ridicule 
the Son of God. "And Herod with his men of war set Him 
at naught, and mocked Him, and arrayed Him in a gor- 
geous robe." Luke 23:11. 

As the wicked king saw Jesus accepting all this indig- 
nity in silence, he was moved with a sudden fear that this 
was no common man before him. He was perplexed with 
the thought that this prisoner might be a heavenly being 
come down to the earth. 

Herod dared not ratify the condemnation of Jesus. He 
wished to relieve himself of the terrible responsibility, and 
so sent the Saviour back to Pilate. 




Condemned by Pilate, 




HEN the Jews returned from Herod, 
bringing the Saviour again to 
Pilate, he was very much displeas- 
ed, and asked what they would have 
him do. He reminded them that he 
had examined Jesus, and had found no 
fault in Him. He told them that they 
had brought complaints against Him, 
but that they had not been able to 
prove a single charge. 
And, furthermore, they had taken Him to Herod, who 
was a Jew, like themselves, and he had found in Him 
nothing worthy of death. But to pacify the accusers, he 
said : — 

"I will therefore chastise Him, and release Him." Luke 
23: 16. 

Here Pilate showed his weakness. He had acknowledged 
that Christ was innocent ; then why should he punish Him ? 
It was a compromise with wrong. The Jews never forgot 
this through all the trial. They had intimidated the Roman 
governor, and now pressed their advantage until they secured 
the condemnation of Jesus. 

The multitude clamored more loudly for the life of the 
prisoner. 

While Pilate was hesitating as to what he should do, 
there was brought to him a letter from his wife, which 
read : — 

"Have thou nothing to do with that just man; for I 

[137] 




:., - * ~ 



__J 



[138] " Behold the Han . ' ' 

" Take ye Him, and crucify Him : for I find nofaidt in Him,^ 



CONDEMNED BY PILATE. 1 39 

have suffered many things this day in a dream because 
of Him." Matthew 27: 19. 

Pilate turned pale at this message ; but the mob became 
more urgent as they saw his indecision. 

Pilate saw that something must be done. It was cus- 
tomary at the feast of the passover to set at liberty one 
prisoner, whom the people might choose. The Roman sol- 
diers had recently captured a noted robber, named Barabbas. 
He was a degraded ruffian and a murderer. So Pilate 
turned to the crowd, and said with great earnestness : — 

"Whom will ye that I release unto you? Barabbas, or 
Jesus which is called Christ?" Matthew 27: 17. 

They replied, "Away with this man, and release unto 
us Barabbas." Luke 23: 18. 

Pilate was dumb with surprise and disappointment. By 
yielding his own judgment and appealing to the people, he 
had lost his dignity and the control of the crowd. After 
that, he was only the tool of the mob. They swayed him 
at their will. He then asked : — 

" What shall I do then with Jesus which is called Christ? " 

With one accord they cried, " Let Him be crucified. 

"And the governor said, Why, what evil hath He done? 

" But they cried out the more, saying, Let Him be 
crucified." Matthew 27: 22, 23. 

Pilate's cheek paled as he heard the terrible cry, " Let 
Him be crucified." He had not thought it would come to 
that. He had repeatedly pronounced Jesus innocent, and 
yet the people were determined that He should suffer this 
most terrible and dreaded death. Again he asked the 
question : — 

"Why, what evil hath He done?" 

And again was set up the awful cry, " Crucify Him, 
crucify Him ! " 



IAO 



CONDEMNED BY PILATE. 



Pilate made one last effort to touch their sympathies. 
Jesus was taken, faint with weariness and covered with 
wounds, and scourged in the sight of His accusers. 

"And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it 



-w— -i 




"And the soldiers platted a crown of thorns, and put it on His head." 

on His head, and they put on Him a purple robe, and said, 
Hail, King of the Jews! and they smote Him with their 
hands." John 19: 2, 3. 

They spit upon Him, and some wicked hand snatched 
the reed that had been placed in His hand, and struck the 
crown upon His brow, forcing the thorns into His temples, 



CONDEMNED BY PILATE. 141 

and sending the blood trickling down His face and beard. 

Satan led the crnel soldiery in their abnse of the Sav- 
iour. It was his purpose to provoke Him to retaliation, if 
possible, or to drive Him to perform a miracle to release 
Himself, and thus break up the plan of salvation. One 
stain upon His human life, one failure of His humanity to 
bear the terrible test, and the Lamb of God would have 
been an imperfect offering, and the redemption of man a 
failure. 

But He who could command the heavenly host, and in 
an instant call to His aid legions of holy angels, one of 
whom could have immediately overpowered that cruel mob, 
— He who could have stricken down His tormentors by the 
flashing forth of His divine majesty, — submitted with dig- 
nified composure to the coarest insult and outrage. 

As the acts of His torturers degraded them below 
humanity, into the likeness of Satan, so did the meekness 
and patience of Jesus exalt Him above humanity, and prove 
His kinship to God. 

Pilate was deeply moved by the uncomplaining patience 
of the Saviour. He sent for Barabbas to be brought into 
the court; then he presented the two prisoners side by 
side. Pointing to the Saviour, he said in a voice of solemn 
entreaty, " Behold the man." " I bring Him forth to you, 
that ye may know that I find no fault in Him." John 19 : 5, 4. 

There stood the Son of God, wearing the robe of mock- 
ery and the crown of thorns. Stripped to the waist, His 
back showed the long, cruel stripes from which the blood 
flowed freely. His face was stained with blood, and bore 
the marks of exhaustion and pain; but never had it ap- 
peared more beautiful. Every feature expressed gentleness 
and resignation, and the tenderest pity for His cruel foes. 

In striking contrast was the prisoner at His side. Every 




[142] 



Christ or Barabbas, 

'Away with this man, and release unto us Barabbas. 



CONDEMNED BY PILATE. 1 43 

line of the countenance of Barabbas showed him to be the 
hardened ruffian that he was. 

Among the beholders there were some who sympathized 
with Jesus. Even the priests and rulers were convicted that 
He was what He claimed to be. But they would not yield. 
They had moved the mob to a mad fury, and again priests, 
rulers, and people raised the cry : — 

" Crucify Him, crucify Him ! " 

At last, losing all patience with their unreasonable, 
vengeful cruelty, Pilate said to them : — 

"Take ye Him, and crucify Him; for I find no fault in 
Him." John 19 : 5, 6. 

Pilate tried hard to release the Saviour; but the Jews 
cried out : — 

"If thou let this man go, thou art not Caesar's friend; 
whosoever inaketh himself a king, speaketh against Csesar." 
John 19 : 12. 

This was touching Pilate in a weak place. He was al- 
ready under suspicion by the Roman government, and he 
knew that a report of this kind would be his ruin. 

"When Pilate saw that he could prevail nothing, but 
that rather a tumult was made, he took water and washed 
his. hands before the multitude, saying: — 

"I am innocent of the blood of this just person; see ye 
to it." Matthew 27: 24. 

In vain Pilate tried to free himself from the guilt of 
condemning Jesus. Had he acted promptly and firmly at 
the first, carrying out his convictions of right, his will 
would not have been overborne by the mob ; they would 
not have presumed to dictate to him. 

His wavering and indecision proved his ' ruin. He saw 
that he could not release Jesus, and yet retain his own 
position and honor. 



^M 



144 



CONDEMNED BY PILATE. 



Rather than lose his worldly power, he chose to sacrifice 
an innocent life. Yielding to the demands of the mob, he 
again sconrged Jesns, and delivered Him to be crucified. 

But in spite of his precautions, the very thing he 
dreaded, afterward came upon him. His honors were stripped 
from him, he was cast down from his high office, and stung 

by remorse and wounded pride, 
not long after the crucifixion 
he ended his own life. 

So all who compromise with 

sin will gain only sorrow and 

ruin. " There is a way which 

seemeth right unto a man, but 

the end thereof are 

the ways of death." 









<i- ■ . ^_ 




"I am innocent of the blood of this just person." 

When Pilate declared himself innocent of the bood of 
Christ. Caiaphas answered defiantly, " His blood be on us, 
and on our children." Matthew 27: 25. 

And the awful words were echoed by the priests, and 
re-echoed by the people. 

It was a terrible sentence to pass upon themselves. It 
was an awful heritage to hand down to their posterity. 

Literally was this fulfilled upon themselves in the fear- 



CONDEMNED BY PILATE. 



145 



ful scenes of the destruction of Jerusalem, about forty years 
later. 

Literally has it been fulfilled in the scattered, despised, 
and oppressed condition of their descendants since that day. 

Doubly literal will be the fulfillment when the final 
accounting shall come. The scene will then be changed, 
and "this same Jesus" will come, "in flaming fire taking 
vengeance on them that know not God." Acts 1: 11; 
2 Thess. 1 : 8. 

Then they will pray to the rocks and mountains : — 

"Fall on us, and hide us from the face of Him that 
sitteth on the throne, and from the wrath of the Lamb ; for 
the great day of His wrath is come." Rev. 6: 16, 17. 





[146] 



Jesus Bearing the Cross. 

'A nd He bearing His cross went/ortii. 



Calvary. 




'ESUS was hurried to Calvary amid the 

shouts and jeers of the crowd. As He 

passed the gate of Pilate's court, the 

heavy cross which had been prepared 

for Barabbas was laid upon His bruised 

\\ and bleeding shoulders. Crosses were 

placed also upon two thieves, who were 

to suffer death at the same time 

with Jesus. 

The load was too heavy for the 
Saviour in His weary, suffering condition. He had gone 
but a few rods when He fell fainting beneath the cross. 

When He revived, the cross was again placed upon His 
shoulders. He staggered on a few steps, and again fell to 
the ground as one lifeless. His persecutors now realized 
that it was impossible for Him to go farther with His bur- 
den, and they were puzzled to find some one who would 
carry the humiliating load. 

Just then they were met by Simon a Cyrenian, coming 
from the opposite direction. Him they siezed and compelled 
to carry the cross to Calvary. 

The sons of Simon were disciples of Jesus, but he him- 
self had not accepted the Saviour. Simon was ever after 
grateful for the privilege of bearing the cross of the Re- 
deemer. . The burden he was thus forced to carry became 
the means of his conversion. The events of Calvary and 
the words uttered by Jesus led Simon to accept Him as the 
Son of God. 

[147] 




[US] 



The Crucifixion. 

' Forgive them ; for they know not what they do. 



CALVARY. 149 

Arriving at the place of crucifixion, the condemned were 
bound to the instruments of torture. The two thieves wres- 
tled in the hands of those who stretched them upon the 
cross; but the Saviour made no resistance. 

The mother of Jesus had followed Him on that awful 
journey to Calvary. She longed to minister to Him as He 
sank exhausted under His burden, but she was not allowed 
this privilege. 

At every step of that wearisome way she had looked for 
Him to manifest His God-given power, and release Himself 
from the murderous throng. And now that the final scene 
was reached, and she saw the thieves bound to the cross, 
what an agony of suspense she endured! 

Would He who had given life to the dead suffer Him- 
self to be crucified? Would the Son of God suffer Himself 
to be thus cruely slain? Must she give up her faith that 
He was the Messiah? 

She saw His hands stretched upon the cross, — those 
hands that had ever been reached out to bless the suffer- 
ing. The hammer and the nails were brought, and as the 
spikes were driven through the tender flesh, the heart- 
broken disciples bore from the cruel scene the fainting 
form of the mother of Jesus. 

The Saviour made no murmur of complaint; His face 
remained pale and serene, but great drops of sweat stood on 
His brow. His disciples had fled from the dreadful scene. 
He was treading the wine-press alone; and of the people 
there were none with Him. Isaiah 63 : 3. 

As the soldiers were doing their work, the mind of Jesus 
passed from His own sufferings to the terrible retribution 
that His persecutors must one day meet. He pitied them 
in their ignorance, and prayed: — 

" Father, forgive them ; for they know not what they do." 



J 5° 



CALVARY. 



Christ was earning the right to become the advocate for 
men in the Father's presence. That prayer for His enemies 
embraced the world. It took in every sinner who had lived 
or shonld live, from the beginning of the world to the end 
of time. 

Whenever we sin, Christ is wonnded afresh. For ns 
He lifts His pierced hands before the Father's throne, and 




"They pierced My hands and My feet." 

says, " Forgive them; for they know not what they do." 

As soon as Christ was nailed to the cross, it was lifted 

by strong men, and with great violence thrust into the 

place prepared for it. This caused intense suffering to the 
Son of God. 



CALVARY. 151 

Pilate then wrote an inscription in Latin, Greek, and 
Hebrew, and placed it upon the cross, above the head of 
Jesus, where all might see it. It read: — 

"Jesus of Nazareth, the king of the Jews." 

The Jews requested that this might be changed. The 
.chief priests said: — 

" Write not, The King of the Jews; but that He said, I 
am King of the Jews." 

But Pilate was angry with himself because of his former 
weakness. He also thoroughly despised the jealous and 
wicked rulers. So he answered: — 

" What I have written I have written." John 19: 19, 21, 22. 

The soldiers divided the clothing of Jesus among them- 
selves. One garment was woven without seam, and about 
this there was a contention. They finally settled the mat- 
ter by casting lots. God's prophet had foretold that they 
would do this. He wrote : — 

" Dogs have compassed Me ; the assembly of the wicked 
have enclosed Me; they pierced My hands and My feet. 
. . . They part My garments among them, and cast lots 
upon My vesture." Psalms 22: 16-18. 

As soon as Jesus was lifted up on the cross, a terrible 
scene took place. Priests, rulers, and scribes joined with 
the rabble in mocking and jeering the dying Son of God, 
saying : — 

"If Thou be the King of the Jews, save Thyself." 
Luke 23 : 37. 

"He saved others; Himself He can not save. If He be 
the King of Israel, let Him now come down from the cross, 
and we will believe Him. He trusted in God; let Him 
deliver Him now, if He will have Him; for He said, I am 
the Son of God." Matthew 27: 42, 43. 

" And they that passed by railed on Him, wagging their 



x 52 



CALVARY. 



heads, and saying, Ah, Thou that destroyest the temple, 
and buildest it in three days, save Thyself and come down 
from the cross." Mark 15: 29, 30. 

Christ could have come down from the cross. But if 
He had done this, we could never have been saved. For 
our sake He was willing to die. 

" He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised 
for our iniquities : the chastisement of our peace was upon 
Him; and with His stripes we are healed." Isaiah 53: 5. 




Death of Christ. 




hast thou 
>#s&ken me?" 



'N yielding up His precious life, Christ 
was not upheld by triumphant joy. 
His heart was rent with anguish 
and oppressed with gloom. But it 
was not the fear or the pain of 
death that caused His suffering. 
It was the crushing weight of the 
sin of the world, a sense of sep- 
aration from His Father's love.- 
This was what broke the Saviour's 
heart, and brought His death so soon. 
Christ felt the woe that sinners 
will feel when they awake to realize 
the burden of their guilt, to know that they have forever 
separated themsleves from the joy and peace of Heaven. 

Angels beheld with amazement the agony of despair 
borne by the Son of God. His anguish of mind was so 
intense that the pain of the cross was hardly felt. 

Nature itself was in sympathy with the scene. The sun 
shone clearly until midday, when suddenly it seemed to be 
blotted out. All about the cross was darkness as deep as 
the blackest midnight. This supernatural darkness lasted 
fully three hours. 

A nameless terror took possession of the multitude. 
The cursing and reviling ceased. Men, women, and chil- 
dren fell upon the earth in abject terror. 

Lightnings occasionally flashed forth from the cloud, and 
revealed the cross and the crucified Redeemer. All thought 

that their time of retribution had come. 

[153] 




L I 54J Darkness on Calvary. 

"About the cross was darkness as deep as the blackest midnight. 



DEATH OF CHRIST. 1 55 

At the ninth honr the darkness lifted from the people, 
but still wrapped the Saviour as with a mantle. The 
lightnings seemed to be hurled at Him as He hung upon 
the cross. It was then that He sent up the despairing cry : — 

"My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?" 

In the meantime the darkness had settled over Jerusa- 
lem and the plains of Judea. As all eyes were turned in 
the direction of the fated city, they saw the fierce light- 
nings of God's wrath directed toward it. 

Suddenly the gloom was lifted from the cross, and in 
clear, trumpet-like tones, that seemed to resound through- 
out creation, Jesus cried : — 

u It is finished." John 19: 30. "Father, into Thy hands 
I commend My spirit." Luke 23 : 46. 

A light encircled the cross, and the face of the Saviour 
shone with a glory like the sun. He then bowed His head 
upon His breast and died. 

The multitude about the cross stood paralyzed, and with 
bated breath gazed upon the Saviour. Again darkness settled 
upon the earth, and a hoarse rumbling like heavy thunder 
was heard. This was accompanied with a violent earthquake. 

The people were shaken into heaps by the earthquake. 
The wildest confusion and terror ensued. In the surround- 
ing mountains, rocks were rent asunder, and went crashing 
down into the plains below. Tombs were broken open, 
and many of the dead were cast out. Creation seemed to be 
breaking into atoms. Priests, rulers, soldiers, and people, 
mute with terror, were lying prostrate upon the ground. 

At the time of the death of Christ, some of the priests 
were ministering in the temple at Jerusalem. They felt 
the shock of the earthquake, and at the same moment the 
vail of the temple, which separated the holy from the most 
holy place, was rent in twain from top to bottom by the 



156 



DEATH OF CHRIST. 



same bloodless hand that wrote the words of doom upon the 
walls of Belshazzar's palace. The most holy place of the 
earthly sanctuary was no longer sacred. Never would the pres- 
ence of God again overshadow that mercy-seat. Never would 
the acceptance or displeasure of God be manifested by the light 
or shadow in the precious stones in the breastplate of the 




high priest. 

Henceforth the blood of 
the offerings in the temple 
was of no value. The Lamb 
of God, in dying, had be- 
come the sacrifice for the 
sins of the world. 
When Christ died upon the cross of Calvary, the new 
and living way was thrown open to Jew and Gentile alike. 
Angels rejoiced as the Saviour cried, "It is finished ! " 
The great plan of redemption was to be carried out. 
Through a life of obedience, the sons of Adam might be 
exalted finally to the presence of God. 

Satan was defeated, and knew that his kingdom was lost. 



In Joseph's Tomb. 




help of the disciples. 



REASON against the Roman govern- 
ment was the crime for which the 
Savionr was condemned. Persons 
put to death for this canse were bnried 
in a place set apart for such criminals. 
John shuddered at the thought of 
having the body of his beloved Master 
handled by the unfeeling soldiers, and 
buried in a dishonored grave. But 
he saw no way to prevent it, as he 
had no influence with Pilate. 

At this trying time, Nicodemus 
and Joseph of Arimathea came to the 
Both of these men were members of 
the Sanhedrim, and were acquainted with Pilate. Both 
were men of wealth and influence. They were determined 
that the Saviour's body should have an honorable burial. 

Joseph went boldly to Pilate, and begged from him the 
body of Jesus. Pilate, after learning that Christ was really 
dead, granted this request. 

While Joseph was gone to Pilate for the Saviour's body, 
Nicodemus was making ready for the burial. It was the 
custom in those times to wrap the bodies of the dead in 
linen cloths, with precious ointments and sweet spices. 
This was one method of embalming. So Nicodemus brought 
a costly gift of about a hundred pounds' weight of myrrh 
and aloes for the body of Jesus. 

The most honored in all Jerusalem could not have been 

[157] 



i58 



IN JOSEPH'S TOMB. 



shown more respect in death. The humble followers of 
Jesus were astonished to see these wealthy rulers taking 
such an interest in the burial of their Master. 

The disciples were overwhelmed with sorrow at the death 
of Christ. They forgot that He had told them it was to 
take place. They were 
without hope. Neither 




Joseph nor Nicodemus had 
[) openly accepted the Saviour 
while He was living. But 
they had listened to His teach- 
ings, and had closely watched 
every step of His ministry. 
Although the disciples had for- 
gotten the Saviour's words foretelling His death, Joseph and 
Nicodemus remembered them well. And the scenes con- 
nected with the death of Jesus, which disheartened the dis- 
ciples, and shook their faith, only proved to these rulers 
that He was the true Messiah, and led them to take their 
stand firmly as believers in Him. 



in Joseph's tomb. 159 

The help of these rich and honored men was greatly 
needed at this time. They could do for their dead Master 
what it was impossible for the poor disciples to do. 

Gently and reverently they, with their own hands, 
removed the body of Christ from the cross. Their tears of 
sympathy fell fast, as they looked upon His bruised and 
torn form. 

Joseph owned a new tomb hewn in a rock. He had 
built it for his own use; but he now prepared it for Jesus. 
The body, together with the spices brought by Nicodemus, 
was wrapped in a linen sheet, and the Redeemer was borne 
to the tomb. 

Although the Jewish rulers had succeeded in putting 
Christ to death, they could not rest easy. They well knew 
of His mighty power. 

Some of them had stood by the grave of Lazarus, and 
had seen the dead brought back to life, and they trembled 
for fear that Christ would Himself rise .from the dead, and 
again appear before them. 

They had heard Him say to the multitude that He had 
power to lay down His life and to take it again. 

They remembered that He had said, " Destroy this 
temple, and in three days I will raise it up " (John 2:19), 
and they knew that He was speaking of His own body. 

Judas had told them that Christ had said to His dis- 
ciples on their last journey to Jerusalem: — 

" Behold, we go up to Jerusalem; and the Son of man 
shall be betrayed unto the chief priests and unto the scribes, 
and they shall condemn Him to death, and shall deliver 
Him to the Gentiles to mock, and to scourge, and to crucify 
Him: and the third day He shall rise again." Matthew 
20: 18, 19. 

They now remembered many things He had spoken 



i6o 



IN JOSEPH^ TOMB. 



which foretold His resurrection. They could not forget 
these things, however much they desired to do so. Like 
their father, the devil, they believed and trembled. 

Everything declared to them that Jesus was the Son of 
God. They could not sleep, for they were more troubled 
about Him in death than they 
had been during His life. 

Bent on doing all they could to 
keep Him in the grave, they asked 




Sealing ("be Tonob. 

Pilate to have the tomb seal- 
ed and guarded until the 
third day. Pilate placed a 
band of soldiers at the com- 
mand of the priests, and 
said: — 

Ye have a watch : go 
your way, make it as sure 
as ye can. So they went, and made the sepulcher sure, 
sealing the stone, and setting a watch." Matthew 27: 65, 66. 



"He Is Risen." 




HE greatest care had been taken to gnard 
the Saviour's tomb, and the entrance had 
been closed with a great stone. Upon this 
stone the Roman seal had been placed in 
such a way that the stone could not be 
moved without breaking the seal. 

Around the tomb was the guard of 
Roman soldiers. They were to keep strict 
watch, that the body of Jesus might not be 
molested. Some of them were constantly pacing to and fro 
before the tomb, while the others rested on the ground near 

by- 

But there was another guard around that tomb. Mighty 
angels from Heaven were there. Any one of this angel 
guard, by putting forth his power, could have stricken down 
the whole Roman army. 

The night preceding the morning of the first day of the 
week has worn slowly away, and the darkest hour, just be- 
fore day-break, has come. 

One of the most powerful angels a is sent from Heaven. 
His countenance is like lightning, and his garments white 
as snow. He parts the darkness from his track, and the 
whole heavens are lighted with his glory. 

The sleeping soldiers awake, and start to their feet. 
With awe and wonder they gaze at the open heavens, and 
the vision of brightness which is nearing them. 

The earth trembles and heaves as that powerful being 
from another world approaches. He is coming on a joyful 

[ l6l l 




[ T 62] The Heavenly Messenger. 

" He parts the darkness from his track, and the whole heavens are lighted "with his glory V 



"he is risen." 



163 



errand, and the speed and power of his flight shake the 
world like a mighty earthquake. Soldiers, officers, and 
sentinels fall as dead men to the ground. 

There had been still another guard about the Saviour's 
tomb. Evil angels were there. Because the Son of God 

had fallen in death, His body was 
even then claimed as the prey of 
^^ him who has the power of death, 
— the devil. 

The angels of Satan 
were present to see that no 
power should take Jesus 
from their grasp. But 
as the mighty being sent 
from the throne of God 
approached, they fled in 
terror from the scene. 

The angel laid hold 
of the great stone at the 
mouth of the tomb, and 
rolled it away, as if it 
had been but a pebble. 
Then with a voice that 
caused the earth to trem- 
ble, he cried: — 
"Jesus, Thou Son of God, come forth, Thy father calls 
Thee!" 

Then He who had earned the power over death and the 
grave came forth from the tomb. Above the rent sepulcher 
He proclaimed, "I am the resurrection and the life." And 
the angel host bowed low in adoration before the Redeemer, 
and welcomed Him with songs of praise. 

Jesus came forth with the tread of a conqueror. At 




164 



"he is risen." 



His presence the earth reeled, the lightning flashed, and 
the thunder rolled. 

An earthquake marked the hour when Christ laid down 
His life. An earthquake also witnessed the moment when 
He took it up in triumph. 

Satan was bitterly angry that his angels had fled at the 
approach of the heavenly messenger. He had dared to hope 
that Christ would not take up His life again, and that the 
plan of redemption was to fail. But as he saw the Saviour 
come forth from the tomb in triumph, all hope was lost. 
Satan now knew that his kingdom would have an end, and 
that he must finally be destroyed. 







Go Tell fly Disciples. 




UKE, in his account of the Saviour's 
burial, speaks of the women who were 
with Him at His crucifixion, and 
says : — 

"They returned, and prepared 
spices and ointments ; and rested 
the Sabbath day according to the 
commandment." Luke 23 : 56. 

The Saviour was buried on Fri- 
day, the sixth day of the week. 
The women prepared spices and 
ointments with which to embalm 
their Lord, and laid them aside, 
until the Sabbath was past. Not even the work of embalm- 
ing the body of Jesus would they do upon the Sabbath day. 
"And when the Sabbath was past, . . . very early in the 
morning, the first day of the week, they came unto the 
sepulcher at the rising of the sun." Mark 16: 1, 2. 

As they neared the garden, they were surprised to see 
the heavens beautifully lighted up, and to feel the earth 
trembling beneath their feet. They hastened to the tomb, 
and were still more astonished to find that the stone was 
rolled away, and that the Roman guard was not there. 

Mary Magdalene had been the first to reach the place. 
Seeing that the stone was removed, she hurried away to 
tell the disciples. When the other women came up, they 
noticed a light shining about the tomb, and looking in, saw 

that it was empty. 

[165] 



1 66 GO TELL MY DISCIPLES. 

As they lingered about the place, they suddenly beheld 
a young man in shining garments sitting by the tomb. It 
was the angel who had rolled away the stone. In fear they 
turned to flee, but the angel said : — 

"Fear not ye; for I know that ye seek Jesus, which 
was crucified. He is not here; for He is risen, as He 
said. Come, see the place where the Lord lay. 

"And go quickly, and tell His disciples that He is 
risen from the dead; and, behold, He goeth before you into 
Galilee; there shall ye see Him." Matthew 28: 5-7. 

As the women looked again into the tomb, they saw 
another shining angel, who inquired of them : — 

"Why seek ye the living among the dead? He is not 
here, but is risen ; remember how He spake unto you when 
He was yet in Galilee, saying, The Son of man must be 
delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and 
the third day rise again." Luke 24 : 5-7. 

The angels then explained the death and resurrection of 
Christ. They reminded the women of the words that Christ 
Himself had spoken, in which He had told beforehand of 
His crucifixion and His resurrection. These words of Jesus 
were now plain to them, and with fresh hope and courage 
they hastened away to tell the glad news. 

Mary had been absent during this scene, but now re- 
turned with Peter and John. When they went back to Jer- 
usalem, she stayed at the tomb. She could not bear to 
leave until she should learn what had become of the body 
of her Lord. As she stood weeping, she heard a voice 
which asked : — 

"Woman, why weepest thou? whom seekest thou?' 

" Her eyes were so blinded by tears that she did not 
notice who it was that spoke to her. She thought it might 
be the gardener, and said to him pleadingly: — 



GO TELL MY DISCIPLES. 



167 



" Sir, if thou have borne Him hence, tell me where thou 
hast laid Him, and I will take Him away." 







"Touch ne not; for I am not yet ascended to My Father." 

She thought that if this rich man's tomb was considered 
too honorable a place for her Lord, she herself would pro- 



1 68 GO TELL MY DISCIPLES. 

vide a place for Him. But now the voice of Christ Him- 
self fell upon her ears. He said: — 

"Mary." 

Her tears were quickly brushed away, and she beheld 
the Saviour. Forgetting, in her joy, that He had been 
crucified, she stretched forth her hands to Him, saying: — 

"Rabboni" (Master): 

Jesus then said, " Touch Me not; for I am not yet 
ascended to My Father; but go to My brethren, and say 
unto them, I ascend unto My Father, and your Father: 
and to My God, and your God." John 20: 15-17. 

Jesus refused to receive the homage of His people until 
He should know that His sacrifice had been accepted by 
the Father. He ascended to the heavenly courts, and from 
God Himself heard the assurance that His atonement for 
the sins of men had been ample, and through His blood 
all might gain eternal life. 

All power in Heaven and on earth was given to the 
Prince of Life, and He returned to His followers in a 
world of sin, that He might impart to them His power and 
glory. 




Witnesses. 








ATE in the afternoon of the day of the resurrection, 

two of the disciples were on their way to Emmaus, 

a little town eight miles from Jerusalem. 

They were perplexed over the events that 

had recently taken place, and especially 

concerning the reports of the 

women who had seen the angels, 

and had met Jesus after His 

resurrection. 

They were now returning to 
their home, to meditate and pray, 
S5 in hope of gaining some light 
in regard to those matters which were so dark to them. 

As they journeyed, a stranger came up and went with 
them ; but they were so busy with their conversation that 
they hardly noticed His presence. 

These strong men were so burdened with grief that 
they wept as they traveled along. Christ's pitying heart 
of love saw here a sorrow which He could comfort. 

Disguised as a stranger, He began to talk with them. 
" But their eyes were holden, that they should not know 
Him. And He said unto them : — 

"What manner of communications are these that ye 
have one to another, as ye walk, and are sad? 

" And the one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answer- 
ing said unto Him : — 

" Art thou only a stranger in Jerusalem, and hast not 
known the things which are come to pass there in these days? 

[169] 



. . — 







[170] 



44 Abide with Us." 

'And He went in to tarry with them." 



WITNESSES. 171 

"And He said unto them, What things? And they said 
unto Him, Concerning Jesus of Nazareth, which was a prophet 
mighty in deed and word before God and all the people." 
Luke 24 : 16-19. 

They then told what had taken place, and repeated the 
report brought by the women who had been at the tomb 
early that same morning. Then He said: — 

" O fools, and slow of heart to believe all that the 
prophets have spoken! ought not Christ to have suffered 
these things, and to enter into His glory? 

"And beginning at Moses and all the prophets, He ex- 
pounded unto them in all the Scriptures the things con- 
cerning Himself." Luke 24: 25-27. 

The disciples were silent from amazement and delight. 
They did not venture to ask the stranger who He was. 
They listened eagerly as He explained to them Christ's 
mission. 

Had the Saviour first made Himself known to the dis- 
ciples, they would have been satisfied. In the fullness of 
their joy they would have desired nothing more. But it 
was necessary for them to understand how His mission had 
been foretold by all the types and prophecies of the Old 
Testament. Upon these their faith must be established. 
Christ performed no miracle to convince them, but it was 
His first work to explain the Scriptures. They had looked 
upon His death as the destruction of all their hopes. Now 
He showed from the prophets that this was the very strong- 
est evidence for their faith. 

In teaching these disciples, Christ showed the import- 
ance of the Old Testament as a witness to His mission. 
Many now reject the Old Testament, claiming that it is no 
longer of any use. But such is not Christ's teaching. So 
highly did He value it, that at one time He said, "If they 



172 WITNESSES. 

hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they be per- 
suaded, though one rose from the dead." Luke 16: 31. 

As the sun was setting, the disciples reached their home. 
Jesus "made as though He would have gone further." But 
the disciples could not bear to part from the One who had 
brought them such joy and hope. 

So they said to Him, "Abide with us ; For it is toward 
evening, and the day is far spent. And He went in to 
tarry with them." Luke 24 : 28, 29. 

The simple evening meal was soon ready, and Christ 
took His place at the head of the table, as His custom 
was. 

It was usually the duty of the head of the family to 
ask a blessing upon the food; but Christ placed His hands 
upon the bread and blessed it. And the eyes of the dis- 
ciples were opened. 

The act of blessing the food, the sound of the now 
familiar voice, the prints of the nails in His hands, all 
proclaimed Him their beloved Master. 

For a moment they sat spellbound ; then they arose to 
fall at His feet and worship Him ; but He suddenly dis- 
appeared. 

In their joy they forgot their hunger and weariness. 
They left the meal untasted, and hastened back to Jerusa- 
lem with the precious message of a risen Saviour. 

As they were relating these things to the disciples, 
Christ Himself stood among them, and, with hands uplifted 
in blessing, said : — 

" Peace be unto you." Luke 24 : 36. 

At first they were frightened ; but when He had shown 
them the prints of the nails in His hands and feet, and 
had eaten before them, they believed and were comforted. 
Faith and joy now took the place of unbelief, and with 



WITNESSES. 



173 



feelings which no words conld express, they acknowledged 
their risen Saviour. 

At this meeting, Thomas was not with them. He re- 
fused to believe the reports in regard to the resurrection. 
But after eight days Jesus appeared to the disciples when 
Thomas was present. 

On this occasion He again showed in His hands and 
feet the marks of the crucifixion. Thomas was at once 
convinced, and cried, "My Lord 
and my God." John 20: 28. 

In the upper chamber, Christ 




again explained the Scrip- 
tures concerning Himself. 
Then He told His dis- 
ciples that repentance and 
forgiveness of sins should 
be preached in His name among all nations, beginning at 
Jerusalem. 

Before His ascension to Heaven, He said to them, "Ye 
shall receive power, after that the Holy Ghost is come upon 
you; and ye shall be witnesses unto Me both in Jerusalem, 
and in all Judea, and in Samaria, and unto the uttermost 
part of the earth." "And, lo, I am with you alway, even 
unto the end of the world." Acts 1:8; Matthew 28: 20. 






174 



WITNESSES. 



You have been witnesses, He said, of My life of self- 
sacrifice in behalf of the world. You have seen that all 
who come to Me, confessing their sins, I freely receive. 
All who will, may be reconciled to God, and have everlast- 
ing life. 

To you, My disciples, I commit this message of mercy. 
It is to be given to all nations, tongues, and peoples. 

Go to the farthest part of the habitable globe ; but know 
that My presence will be there. Labor in faith and con- 
fidence; for the time will never come when I will forsake 
you. 

The Saviour's commission to the disciples included all 
the believers. It includes all believers in Christ to the 
end of time. All who receive the life of Christ are to work 
for the salvation of their fellow-men. 

Not all can preach to congregations ; but all can minister 
to individuals. Those minister who receive the suffering, 
who help the needy, who comfort the sorrowing, and who 
tell the sinner of Christ's pardoning love. These are Christ's 
witnesses. 




This Same Jesus. 




\ HE Saviour's work on earth was 
finished. The time had now 
come for Him to return to His 
Heavenly home. He had over- 
come, and was again to take 
His place by the side of His 
Father upon His throne of light 
and glory. 

Jesus chose the Mount of 
Olives as the place of His 
ascension. Accompanied by the 
eleven, He made His way to 
r fhii iame /ews- the mountain. But the disciples 
%n like runner- did not know that this was to 
be their last interview with their Master. As they walked, 
the Saviour gave them His parting instruction. Just before 
leaving them, He made that precious promise, so dear to 
every one of His followers : — 

"Lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the 
world." Matthew 28 : 20. 

They crossed the summit, to the vicinity of Bethany. 
Here they paused, and the disciples gathered about their 
Lord. Beams of light seemed to radiate from His counten- 
ance as He looked with love upon them. Words of the 
deepest tenderness were the last which fell upon their ears 
from the lips of the Saviour. 

With hands outstretched in blessing, He slowly ascended 

[175] 




ri761 The Ascension. 

" With hands outstretched in blessing, He slowly ascended from among them." 



THIS SAME JESUS. 1 77 

from among them. As He passed upward, the awe-stricken 
disciples looked with straining eyes for the last glimpse of 
their ascending Lord. A cloud of glory received Him from 
their sight. At the same time there floated down to them 
the sweetest and most joyous music from the angel choir. 

While the disciples were still gazing upward, voices 
addressed them which sounded like richest music. They 
turned, and saw two angels in the form of men, who spoke 
to them, saying : — 

"Ye men of Galilee, why stand ye gazing up into 
Heaven? this same Jesus, which' is taken up from, you 
into Heaven, shall so come in like manner as ye have 
seen Him go into Heaven." Acts 1: 11. 

These angels belonged to the company that had come 
to escort the Saviour to His heavenly home. In sympathy 
and love for those left below, they had stayed to assure 
them that this separation would not be forever. 

Jesus had promised to come again, for He said: — 

"Let not your heart be troubled: ye believe in God, 
believe also in Me. In My Father's house are many man- 
sions : if it were not so, I would have told you. I go to 
prepare a place for you. And if I go and prepare a place 
for you, I will come again, and receive you unto Myself; 
that where I am, there ye may be also." John 14: 1-3. 

The angels declared to the disciples that Christ would 
"so come in like manner" as they had seen Him go into 
Heaven. He ascended bodily, and they saw Him as He 
left them and was received by the cloud. He will return 
on a great white cloud, and "every eye shall see Him." 
Revelation 1:7. 

Enoch testified, " Behold, the Lord cometh with ten 
thousands of His saints, to execute judgment upon all." 
Jude 14. 






i 7 8 



THIS SAME JESUS. 



Isaiah, prophesied that the righteous will declare at His 
coming, " Lo, this is our God ; we have waited for Him, and 
He will save us." Isaiah. 25:9. 

The apostle Paul, describing the same scene, said : — 

"The Lord Himself shall descend from Heaven with a 
shout, with the voice of the archangel, and with the trump 
of God: and the dead in Christ shall rise first: 

" Then we which are alive and remain shall be caught 
up together with them in the clouds, to meet the Lord in 
the air; and so shall we ever be with the Lord." 1 Thessa- 
lonians 4 : 16, 17. 

Thus will our Saviour come to the earth to take to 
Himself forever those who have been loyal to Him. 




Their Ascended Lord. 




HEN the disciples returned to Jer- 
usalem, the people looked upon 
them with amazement. After the 
trial and crucifixion of their Mas- 
ter, it had been thought that they 
would appear downcast and asham- 
ed. Their enemies expected to 
see upon their faces an expression 
of sorrow and defeat. Instead of 
this, there was only gladness and 
triumph. Their faces were aglow 
with a happiness not born of 
earth. They did not mourn over 
disappointed hopes, but were full 
of praise and thanksgiving to God. 

With rejoicing they told the wonderful story of Christ's 
resurrection and His ascension to Heaven, and their testi- 
mony was received by many. 

The disciples no longer had any distrust of the future. 
They knew that the Saviour was in Heaven, and that His 
sympathies were with them still. They knew that He was 
pleading before God the merits of His blood. He was 
showing to the Father His wounded hands and feet, as an 
evidence of the price He had paid for His redeemed. 

They knew that He would come again, with all the 
holy angels with Him, and they looked for this event with 
great joy and longing anticipation. 

When Jesus passed from the sight of His disciples on 

C179] 



180 THEIR ASCENDED LORD. 

the Mount of Olives, He was met by a heavenly host, who, 
with songs of joy and triumph, escorted Him upward. 

At the portals of the city of God an innumerable com- 
pany of angels await His coming. As Christ approaches 
the gates, the angels who are escorting Him, in triumphant 
tones address the company at the portals : — 

" Lift up your heads, O ye gates ; 

And be ye lift up, ye everlasting doors ; 
And the King of glory shall come in. " 

The waiting angels at the gates inquire : — 

' ' Who is this King of glory ? ' ' 
This they say, not because they know not who He is, 
but because they desire to hear the answer of exalted 
praise : — 

" The Lord strong and mighty, 
The Lord mighty in battle. 
Lift up your heads, O ye gates ; 
Even lift them up, ye everlasting doors ; 
And the King of glory shall come in. " 

Again the waiting angels ask: — 

' ' Who is this King of glory ? ' ' 

The escorting angels reply in melodious strains : — 
" The Lord of hosts, 
He is the King of glory. ' ' 

— Psalm 24 : 7-10. 

Then the portals of the city of God are opened wide, and 
the angelic throng sweep through the gates amid a burst 
of rapturous music. 

All the heavenly host are waiting to honor their returned 
Commander. They wait for Him to take His place upon 
the throne of the Father. 

But He can hot yet receive the coronet of glory and 
the royal robe. He has a request to present before the 
Father concerning His chosen ones on the earth. He can 
not accept honor till before the heavenly universe His church 
shall be justified and accepted. 



THEIR ASCENDED LORD. 



181 



He asks that where He is, there His people may be. 
If He is to have glory, they must share it with Him. 
Those who suffer with Him on the earth must reign with 
Him in His kingdom. 

For this Christ pleads for His church. He identifies 
His interests with theirs, and, with a love and constancy 




"Lift up your heads, O ye gates; . . . 
and the King of glory shall come in." 

stronger than death, advocates the rights and titles pur- 
chased by His blood. 

The Father's answer to this appeal goes forth in the 
proclamation : — 

" Let all the angels of God worship Him." Hebrews i : 6. 

Joyfully the leaders of the heavenly host adore the Re- 
deemer. The innumerable company of angels bow before 
Him, and the courts of Heaven echo and re-echo with the 
glad shout: — 

"Worthy is the Lamb that was slain to receive power, 



l82 



THEIR ASCENDED LORD. 



and riches, and wisdom, and strength, and honor, and glory, 
and blessing." Revelation 5: 12. 

Christ's followers are "accepted in the Beloved." In the 
presence of the heavenly host, the Father has ratified the 
covenant made with Christ, that He will receive repentant 
and obedient men, and will love them even as He loves His 
Son. Where the Redeemer is, there the redeemed shall 
be. 

The Son of God has triumphed over the prince of dark- 
ness, and conquered death and sin. Heaven rings with 
voices in lofty strains proclaiming: — 

" Blessing, and honor, and glory, and power be unto 
Him that sitteth upon the throne, and unto the Lamb for- 
ever and ever." Revelation 5: 13. 




The Desire of Ages 




By MRS. E. G. WHITE, 



THE author treats the life and work of 
Christ and his disciples in this volume 
from the standpoint of a believer to be- 
lievers, and as a Christian to Christians. 
' ' The Desire of Ages ' ' is more than a 
biography of the life of Christ : it is the 
story of the life of lives, revealing the 
breadth, height, and depth of the Father's 
love in the gift of his only begotten Son 
for the fallen race. This gift of love was 
recorded by the seers of old in Sacred 
Writ long before the Messiah came to the 
deliverance of his people. 

The scenes and incidents in connec- 
tion with the Saviour's birth in Bethlehem 
of Judea, the appearance of the angels 
to the shepherds ; his presentation ; the 
visit of the wise men ; the childhood and 
youth of Jesus ; his mother his first human 
teacher : Christ's baptism ; choosing his 
disciples ; the Great Teacher ; his miracles and labors ; n earing the end ; in 
Gethsemane ; before Annas ; in Pilate's judgment-hall ; Calvary ; in Joseph's 
new tomb ; and the resurrection and ascension are dwelt upon in such a way as 
to enable the reader to obtain a new glimpse of the divine character revealed in 
the earthly life of Christ. 

"The Desire of Ages" is a book for parents, educators, Sabbath-school 
officers, teachers, and students. It is an invaluable reference book, and should 
be in every home and library. 

It is printed on extra finished, supercalendered book paper, contains 866 
pages, beautifully illustrated, handsomely and substantially bound. The follow- 
ing various styles and prices bring the book within the reach of all. 

SUBSCRIPTION EDITION. 

Full Morocco, Gilt Edges $7.00 Cloth, Gilt Edges $4.25 

Library, Marbled Edges 5.00 Cloth, Marbled Edges 3.50 

Popular Edition, Plain Edges $2.50 



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Russia, Limp, Round Corners, Sprinkled Edges 2.00 

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REVIEW AND HERALD PUB. CO., 



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Battle Creek. Mich. 
Tororvto, Ont. 



Atlocnte^, Gol. 



r %EST STORIES FROM THE BEST BOOK 

m ^B has been designed with special reference to its adaptability to the needs 

*-^^ of the children. For this reason it has been profusely illustrated. The 

experience of years has fully demonstrated that immature minds need good 

illustrations to impress the truths presented in either oral or written lessons. 

The eye is the front door to the mind. 

" BEST STORIES " is divided into two departments, as follows:— 

EASY LESSONS DEPARTMENT. 

This department is the children 's very own. It is for them to study for them- 
selves, under the guidance of teacher, mother, brother, or sister. It has been pre- 
pared with great care by one who has had many years of experience as a teacher 
of children. It is well illustrated, FIFTEEN of the pages being printed in colors. 

BIBLE STORY DEPARTMENT. 

While the children are learning to read from the Easy Lessons department, the 
parents and elder brothers and sisters can read to them these Bible stories, 
explaining the beautiful pictures accompanying them. These sample pages fair- 
ly represent the appearance of the Bible Story department of the book. The in- 
tention of the author has been to present a connected chain of the events from 
creation clear through the ministry of Christ on earth, and to the restoration of 
the first dominion. 

These stories have been prepared with special reference to teaching the truth. 
Many vital points of present truth are considered in a manner to cause a deeper 
investigation of these subjects from the Bible. 

An explanation may be offered for beginning with the subject of Satan, for 
in our efforts in the South we have found that the devil, his origin and work, is 
a subject more misunderstood than almost any other in the Bible. We are also 
persuaded that this is often the case in the North. 

IN FOUR LANGUAGES. 

"BEST STORIES " has been carefully translated from the English into the 
German, Danish, and Swedish languages. 

The plan of translation is peculiar and unique in the " EASY LESSONS " 
department, as will be seen by the sample pages. The English accompanies the 
translation in each of the three foreign languages. This feature will be of great 
benefit to those coming to our country without the knowledge of our language. 
It will also be valuable for all persons of these nationalities who desire their chil- 
dren to still retain a knowledge of their mother tongue. 

STYLES OF BINDING. 

"Best Stories" has 200 large pages, and is issued uniformly in all four languages, in 
the following styles of binding, at these prices : Thin paper edition, heavy paper covers, 
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sentation cover, 75 cents. The profits from the sale of this book will be used in behalf of 
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WOO CANVASSERS 

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ADDRESS THE PUBLISHERS OF "CHRIST OUR SAVIOUR." 



DEC . 3 1900 



